wanton

wanton
wantonly, adv.wantonness, n.
/won"tn/, adj.
1. done, shown, used, etc., maliciously or unjustifiably: a wanton attack; wanton cruelty.
2. deliberate and without motive or provocation; uncalled-for; headstrong; willful: Why jeopardize your career in such a wanton way?
3. without regard for what is right, just, humane, etc.; careless; reckless: a wanton attacker of religious convictions.
4. sexually lawless or unrestrained; loose; lascivious; lewd: wanton behavior.
5. extravagantly or excessively luxurious, as a person, manner of living, or style.
6. luxuriant, as vegetation.
7. Archaic.
a. sportive or frolicsome, as children or young animals.
b. having free play: wanton breezes; a wanton brook.
n.
8. a wanton or lascivious person, esp. a woman.
v.i.
9. to behave in a wanton manner; become wanton.
v.t.
10. to squander, esp. in pleasure (often fol. by away): to wanton away one's inheritance.
[1250-1300; ME wantowen lit., undisciplined, ill-reared, OE wan- not + togen ptp. of teon to discipline, rear, c. G ziehen, L ducere to lead; akin to TOW1]
Syn. 1. malicious. 2. calculated. 3. heedless, inconsiderate. 4. licentious, dissolute, immoral, libidinous, concupiscent, lustful. 5. lavish. 10. waste.
Ant. 3. careful, considerate. 4, 5. restrained.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • wanton — wan·ton / wänt ən, wȯnt / adj: manifesting extreme indifference to a risk of injury to another that is known or should have been known: characterized by knowledge of and utter disregard for probability of resulting harm a wanton act by such… …   Law dictionary

  • 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.] [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • wanton — [wänt′ n] adj. [ME wantowen, var. of wantogen, wanton, irregular < OE wan , used as negative prefix < wan, lacking, deficient (see WANE) + togen, pp. of teon, to draw, educate, bring up (see TOW1)] 1. Obs. undisciplined; unmanageable [a… …   English World dictionary

  • Wanton — may refer to:* Joseph Wanton Morrison (1783 1826), British soldier * Wanton noodle, a Cantonese noodle dishPeople with the surname Wanton:* George H. Wanton (1868 1940), Buffalo Soldier in the United States Army * Joseph Wanton (1705 1780),… …   Wikipedia

  • wanton — [adj1] extravagant, lustful abandoned, fast*, lax, lewd, libertine, libidinous, licentious, outrageous, profligate, promiscuous, shameless, speedy*, unprincipled, unscrupulous, wayward, X rated*; concepts 372,401,545 Ant. clean, decent, moral,… …   New thesaurus

  • Wanton — Wan ton, n. 1. A roving, frolicsome thing; a trifler; used rarely as a term of endearment. [1913 Webster] I am afeard you make a wanton of me. Shak. [1913 Webster] Peace, my wantons; he will do More than you can aim unto. B. Jonson. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wanton — Wan ton, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Wantoned}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Wantoning}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To rove and ramble without restraint, rule, or limit; to revel; to play loosely; to frolic. [1913 Webster] Nature here wantoned as in her prime. Milton.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wanton — Wan ton, v. t. To cause to become wanton; also, to waste in wantonness. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • wanton — 1 *licentious, libertine, lewd, lustful, lascivious, libidinous, lecherous Analogous words: *immoral, unmoral, amoral: *abandoned, profligate, dissolute, reprobate Antonyms: chaste Contrasted words: pure, modest, decent (see CHASTE): virtuous, * …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • wanton — ► ADJECTIVE 1) (of a cruel or violent action) deliberate and unprovoked. 2) sexually immodest or promiscuous. 3) literary growing profusely; luxuriant. ► NOUN archaic ▪ a sexually immodest or promiscuous woman. DERIVATIVES wantonly adverb …   English terms dictionary

  • wanton — Reckless, heedless, malicious; characterized by extreme recklessness or foolhardiness; recklessly disregardful of the rights or safety of others or of consequences. In re Wegner, C.C.A.I11., 88 F.2d 899, 902. Means undisciplined, unruly, marked… …   Black's law dictionary

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