Hypertext Webster Gateway: "wanton"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Wanton \Wan"ton\, n.
1. A roving, frolicsome thing; a trifler; -- used rarely as a
term of endearment.
I am afeard you make a wanton of me. --Shak.
Peace, my wantons; he will do More than you can aim
unto. --B. Jonson.
2. One brought up without restraint; a pampered pet.
Anything, sir, That's dry and wholesome; I am no
bred wanton. --Beau. & Fl.
3. A lewd person; a lascivious man or woman.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Wanton \Wan"ton\, a. [OE. wantoun, contr. from wantowen; pref.
wan- wanting (see {Wane}, v. i.), hence expressing negation +
towen, p. p., AS. togen, p. p. of te['o]n to draw, to
educate, bring up; hence, properly, ill bred. See {Tug}, v.
t.]
1. Untrained; undisciplined; unrestrained; hence, loose;
free; luxuriant; roving; sportive. ``In woods and wanton
wilderness.'' --Spenser. ``A wild and wanton herd.''
--Shak.
A wanton and a merry [friar]. --Chaucer.
[She] her unadorned golden tresses wore Disheveled,
but in wanton ringlets waved. --Milton.
How does your tongue grow wanton in her praise!
--Addison.
2. Wandering from moral rectitude; perverse; dissolute. ``Men
grown wanton by prosperity.'' --Roscommon.
3. Specifically: Deviating from the rules of chastity; lewd;
lustful; lascivious; libidinous; lecherous.
Not with wanton looking of folly. --Chaucer.
[Thou art] froward by nature, enemy to peace,
Lascivious, wanton. --Shak.
4. Reckless; heedless; as, wanton mischief.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Wanton \Wan"ton\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Wantoned}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Wantoning}.]
1. To rove and ramble without restraint, rule, or limit; to
revel; to play loosely; to frolic.
Nature here wantoned as in her prime. --Milton.
How merrily we would sally into the fields, and
strip under the first warmth of the sun, and wanton
like young dace in the streams! --Lamb.
2. To sport in lewdness; to play the wanton; to play
lasciviously.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Wanton \Wan"ton\, v. t.
To cause to become wanton; also, to waste in wantonness.
[Obs.]
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
wanton
adj 1: occurring without motivation or provocation; "motiveless
malignity"; "unprovoked and dastardly attack"-
F.D.Roosevelt [syn: {motiveless}, {unprovoked}]
2: casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior; "her easy
virtue"; "he was told to avoid loose (or light) women";
"wanton behavior" [syn: {easy}, {light}, {loose}, {promiscuous},
{sluttish}]
n : lewd or lascivious woman
v 1: waste time; spend one's time idly or inefficiently [syn: {piddle},
{wanton away}, {piddle away}, {trifle}]
2: indulge in a carefree or voluptuous way of life
3: spend wastefully; "wanton one's money away" [syn: {wanton
away}, {trifle away}]
4: become extravagant; indulge (oneself) luxuriously [syn: {luxuriate}]
5: engage in amorous play
6: behave extremely cruelly and brutally
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