Definitions for wantonˈwɒn tn

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

wan•tonˈwɒn tn(adj.)

done maliciously or unjustifiably:
wanton cruelty.
deliberate and without motive; unprovoked:
a wanton attack.
without regard for what is right, just, etc.; reckless:
wanton assassination of a person's character.
sexually unrestrained; lascivious; lewd:
wanton behavior.
extravagant or excessive:
living in wanton luxury.
luxuriant, as vegetation.
Archaic. sportive or frolicsome, as children or young animals. having free play: cruelly playful; mischievous:
wanton breezes.
wanton schoolboys.
(n.)a wanton or lascivious person, esp. a woman.
(v.i.)to behave in a wanton manner.
(v.t.)to squander (often fol. by away):
to wanton away one's inheritance.

Origin of wanton:

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 tow1

wan′ton•ness(n.)

Princeton's WordNet

wanton(adj)
lewd or lascivious woman
motiveless, unprovoked, wanton(adj)
occurring without motivation or provocation
"motiveless malignity"; "unprovoked and dastardly attack"- F.D.Roosevelt
easy, light, loose, promiscuous, sluttish, wanton(verb)
casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior
"her easy virtue"; "he was told to avoid loose (or light) women"; "wanton behavior"
piddle, wanton, wanton away, piddle away, trifle(verb)
waste time; spend one's time idly or inefficiently
wanton(verb)
indulge in a carefree or voluptuous way of life
wanton, wanton away, trifle away(verb)
spend wastefully
"wanton one's money away"
luxuriate, wanton(verb)
become extravagant; indulge (oneself) luxuriously
wanton(verb)
engage in amorous play
wanton(verb)
behave extremely cruelly and brutally

Wiktionary

wanton(Noun)
A pampered or coddled person.
wanton(Noun)
An overly playful person.
wanton(Noun)
A self-indulgent person, fond of excess.
wanton(Noun)
A lewd or immoral person, especially a prostitute.
wanton(Verb)
To act wantonly; become wanton.
wanton(Verb)
To waste or squander, especially in pleasure (often with away).
The young man wantoned away his inheritance.
wanton(Adjective)
Undisciplined, unruly; not able to be controlled.
wanton(Adjective)
Lewd, immoral; sexually open, unchaste.
wanton(Adjective)
Playful, sportive; being merry or carefree (often used figuratively).
wanton(Adjective)
Self-indulgent, fond of excess; luxurious.
wanton(Adjective)
Capricious, reckless of morality, justice etc.; acting without regard for the law or the well-being of others; gratuitous.
wanton(Adjective)
Extravagant, unrestrained; excessive (of speech or thought).

Origin: From wan- + (a descendant of) togen, past participle of teon.

Webster Dictionary

Wanton(verb)
untrained; undisciplined; unrestrained; hence, loose; free; luxuriant; roving; sportive
Wanton(verb)
wandering from moral rectitude; perverse; dissolute
Wanton(verb)
specifically: Deviating from the rules of chastity; lewd; lustful; lascivious; libidinous; lecherous
Wanton(verb)
reckless; heedless; as, wanton mischief
Wanton(noun)
a roving, frolicsome thing; a trifler; -- used rarely as a term of endearment
Wanton(noun)
one brought up without restraint; a pampered pet
Wanton(noun)
a lewd person; a lascivious man or woman
Wanton(verb)
to rove and ramble without restraint, rule, or limit; to revel; to play loosely; to frolic
Wanton(verb)
to sport in lewdness; to play the wanton; to play lasciviously
Wanton(verb)
to cause to become wanton; also, to waste in wantonness