Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

wanton

 - 4 dictionary results

wan⋅ton

  [won-tn]
Use wanton in a Sentence
–adjective
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.
–noun
8. a wanton or lascivious person, esp. a woman.
–verb (used without object)
9. to behave in a wanton manner; become wanton.
–verb (used with object)
10. to squander, esp. in pleasure (often fol. by away): to wanton away one's inheritance.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME wantowen lit., undisciplined, ill-reared, OE wan- not + togen ptp. of tēon to discipline, rear, c. G ziehen, L dūcere to lead; akin to tow 1

Related forms:
wan⋅ton⋅ly, adverb
wan⋅ton⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. malicious. 2. calculated. 3. heedless, inconsiderate. 4. licentious, dissolute, immoral, libidinous, concupiscent, lustful. 5. lavish. 10. waste.

Antonyms:
3. careful, considerate. 4, 5. restrained.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To wanton
wan·ton   (wŏn'tən)   
adj.  

  1. Immoral or unchaste; lewd.

    1. Gratuitously cruel; merciless.

    2. Marked by unprovoked, gratuitous maliciousness; capricious and unjust: wanton destruction.

  3. Unrestrainedly excessive: wanton extravagance; wanton depletion of oil reserves.

  4. Luxuriant; overabundant: wanton tresses.

  5. Frolicsome; playful.

  6. Undisciplined; spoiled.

  7. Obsolete Rebellious; refractory.

v.   wan·toned, wan·ton·ing, wan·tons

v.   intr.
To act, grow, or move in a wanton manner; be wanton.
v.   tr.
To waste or squander extravagantly.
n.  

  1. One who is immoral, lewd, or licentious.

  2. One that is playful or frolicsome.

  3. One that is undisciplined or spoiled.


[Middle English wantowen : wan-, not, lacking (from Old English; see euə- in Indo-European roots) + towen, past participle of teen, to bring up (from Old English tēon, to lead, draw; see deuk- in Indo-European roots).]
wan'ton·ly adv., wan'ton·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

wanton  (adj.)
c.1300, wan-towen, from M.E. privative prefix wan- "wanting, lacking" (from O.E. wan "wanting;" see wane) + togen, pp. of teon "to train, discipline;" lit. "to pull, draw," from P.Gmc. *teuhan (cf. O.H.G. ziohan "to pull;" see tug). The basic notion perhaps is "ill-bred, poorly brought up;" cf. Ger. ungezogen "ill-bred, rude, haughty," lit. "unpulled."
"As Flies to wanton Boyes are we to th' Gods, They kill vs for their sport." [Shakespeare, "Lear," 1605]
Noun sense of "lascivious, lewd person" is attested from 1529. The verb is recorded from 1582. The only Eng. survival of a once-common Gmc. negating prefix still active in Du. (cf. wanbestuur "misgovernment," wanluid "discordant sound"), Ger. (wahn-), etc.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: wan·ton
Pronunciation: 'wänt-&n, 'wont-
Function: adjective
: 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 wanton act> wanton or willful misconduct> —see also RECKLESS
NOTE: Wanton reckless, and willful are often used to refer to an aggravated level of negligence that borders on intent and that is often ground for an award of punitive damages. —wan·ton·ly adverb —wan·ton·ness noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see wanton on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way