Wanton Definition
wŏntən
wantons
adjective
Undisciplined; unmanageable.
A wanton child.
Webster's New World
Lascivious or promiscuous. Used especially of women.
American Heritage
Exciting or expressing sexual desire.
A wanton pose.
American Heritage
Sexually loose or unrestrained.
A wanton woman.
Webster's New World
Capricious; unrestrained.
Wanton winds.
Webster's New World
verb
wantons
To be wanton in behavior, action, manner, etc.
Webster's New World
To move idly or playfully.
American Heritage
(intransitive) To rove and ramble without restraint, rule, or limit; to revel; to play loosely; to frolic.
Wiktionary
To waste or squander, especially in pleasure (often with away).
The young man wantoned away his inheritance.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
- trifle
- piddle away
- wanton away
- piddle
- trifle away
- luxuriate
noun
A wanton person or thing; esp., a sexually loose or unrestrained woman.
Webster's New World
A self-indulgent person, fond of excess.
Wiktionary
Origin of Wanton
-
Middle English wantowen wan- not, lacking (from Old English euə- in Indo-European roots) towen past participle of teen to bring up (from Old English tēon to lead, draw deuk- in Indo-European roots)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From wan- + (a descendant of) Old English togen, past participle of tÄ“on (“to train, discipline").
From Wiktionary
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