Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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.
\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.
\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.
\Wan"ton\, v. t. To cause to become wanton; also, to waste in wantonness. [Obs.]