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wanton |
5 definitions found 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 1.6 [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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