[syn: easy, light, loose, promiscuous, sluttish, wanton]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Wanton \Wan"ton\, v. t.
To cause to become wanton; also, to waste in wantonness.
[Obs.]
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Wanton \Wan"ton\, n.
1. A roving, frolicsome thing; a trifler; -- used rarely as a
term of endearment.
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I am afeard you make a wanton of me. --Shak.
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Peace, my wantons; he will do
More than you can aim unto. --B. Jonson.
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2. One brought up without restraint; a pampered pet.
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Anything, sir,
That's dry and wholesome; I am no bred wanton.
--Beau. & Fl.
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3. A lewd person; a lascivious man or woman.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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.]
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1. Untrained; undisciplined; unrestrained; hence, loose;
free; luxuriant; roving; sportive. "In woods and wanton
wilderness." --Spenser. "A wild and wanton herd." --Shak.
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A wanton and a merry [friar]. --Chaucer.
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[She] her unadorned golden tresses wore
Disheveled, but in wanton ringlets waved. --Milton.
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How does your tongue grow wanton in her praise!
--Addison.
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2. Wandering from moral rectitude; perverse; dissolute. "Men
grown wanton by prosperity." --Roscommon.
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3. Specifically: Deviating from the rules of chastity; lewd;
lustful; lascivious; libidinous; lecherous.
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Not with wanton looking of folly. --Chaucer.
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[Thou art] froward by nature, enemy to peace,
Lascivious, wanton. --Shak.
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4. Reckless; heedless; as, wanton mischief.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Wanton \Wan"ton\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Wantoned; p. pr. & vb.
n. Wantoning.]
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1. To rove and ramble without restraint, rule, or limit; to
revel; to play loosely; to frolic.
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Nature here wantoned as in her prime. --Milton.
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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.
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2. To sport in lewdness; to play the wanton; to play
lasciviously.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
wanton
adj 1: occurring without motivation or provocation; "motiveless
malignity"; "unprovoked and dastardly attack"-
F.D.Roosevelt [syn: motiveless, unprovoked, wanton]
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, wanton]
n 1: lewd or lascivious woman
v 1: waste time; spend one's time idly or inefficiently [syn:
piddle, wanton, 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,
wanton away, trifle away]
4: become extravagant; indulge (oneself) luxuriously [syn:
luxuriate, wanton]
5: engage in amorous play
6: behave extremely cruelly and brutally