Adjective: wanton wón-t(u)n
Usage: archaic
Verb: wanton wón-t(u)n
Usage: archaic
- Occurring without motivation or provocation
"wanton malignity";
- motiveless, unprovoked
- Casual and unrestrained in sexual behaviour
"wanton behaviour";
- easy, loose, promiscuous, sluttish [informal], tarty [informal], slutty [informal]
Usage: archaic
Verb: wanton wón-t(u)n
Usage: archaic
- Waste time; spend one's time idly or inefficiently
"He wantoned away his summer vacation";
- piddle [informal], wanton away [archaic], piddle away [informal], trifle
- Indulge in a carefree or voluptuous way of life
"The young heir wantoned away his inheritance on luxurious vacations"
- Spend wastefully
"wanton one's money away";
- wanton away [archaic], trifle away
- Become extravagant; indulge (oneself) luxuriously
"She wantoned in her newfound wealth";
- luxuriate
- Engage in amorous play
"The couple wantoned in the secluded garden"; "They wantoned all night"
- Behave extremely cruelly and brutally
"The invaders wantoned through the village, destroying everything in their path"
Derived forms: wantoned, wantoning, wantons
See also: unchaste, unmotivated
Type of: acquit, act, bear, behave, carry, chat up [informal], comport, conduct, consume, coquet [rare], dally, deport, do, drop, expend, flirt, live, mash [archaic], romance, sensualist, spend, squander, ware [archaic], waste
Encyclopedia: Wanton, John