wan´ton|ness

wan´ton|ness
wan|ton «WON tuhn», adjective, noun, verb.
–adj.
1. reckless, heartless, or malicious: »

That boy hurts animals from wanton cruelty.

2. without reason or excuse: »

a wanton attack, wanton mischief.

 SYNONYM(S): unjustified.
3. a) not moral; not chaste: »

a wanton person.

SYNONYM(S): dissolute, licentious. b) lewd; lascivious: »

And dancing round him, with wanton looks and bare arms (Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton).

4. frolicsome; playful: »

a wanton breeze, a wanton child. Who for thy table feeds the wanton fawn (Alexander Pope).

5. profuse in growth; luxuriant; rank: »

On the wanton rushes lay you down (Shakespeare).

6. not restrained: »

a wanton mood. How does your tongue grow wanton in her praise (Joseph Addison).

 SYNONYM(S): extravagant, unrestrained.
7. Obsolete. luxurious; lavish.
–n.
a wanton person, especially a woman.
–v.i.
1. to act in a wanton manner: »

The wind wantoned with the leaves.

2. to behave as a wanton.
3. (of plants) to grow in profusion; run riot.
–v.t.
to waste foolishly; squander; dissipate: »

With this money the King shall wanton away his time in pleasures (Samuel Pepys).

╂[Middle English wantowen < Old English wan-not, lacking + togen brought up, past participle of tēon to bring]
–wan´ton|er, noun.
–wan´ton|ly, adverb.
–wan´ton|ness, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • wan´ton|ly — wan|ton «WON tuhn», adjective, noun, verb. –adj. 1. reckless, heartless, or malicious: »That boy hurts animals from wanton cruelty. 2. without reason or excuse: »a wanton attack, wanton mischief. SYNONYM(S): unjustified. 3. a) not moral; not… …   Useful english dictionary

  • wan´ton|er — wan|ton «WON tuhn», adjective, noun, verb. –adj. 1. reckless, heartless, or malicious: »That boy hurts animals from wanton cruelty. 2. without reason or excuse: »a wanton attack, wanton mischief. SYNONYM(S): unjustified. 3. a) not moral; not… …   Useful english dictionary

  • wan|ton — «WON tuhn», adjective, noun, verb. –adj. 1. reckless, heartless, or malicious: »That boy hurts animals from wanton cruelty. 2. without reason or excuse: »a wanton attack, wanton mischief. SYNONYM(S): unjustified. 3. a) not moral; not chaste: »a… …   Useful english dictionary

  • ness — ness·ber·ry; ness·ler·iza·tion; ness·ler·ize; ness·ler s; new·fan·gled·ness; new·ness; news·i·ness; nice·ness; nig·gard·li·ness; nig·gard·ness; nigh·ness; nip·pi·ness; no·ble·ness; nois·i·ness; non·cha·lant·ness; north·er·li·ness; north·ness;… …   English syllables

  • ton — abur·ton; ac·e·ton·ate; ac·e·ton·emia; ac·e·ton·ic; ac·e·ton·uria; ac·e·ton·yl; ac·e·ton·yl·ac·e·tone; ac·e·ton·yl·i·dene; ace·tyl·ac·e·ton·ate; ac·ton; al·cap·ton; al·kap·ton; al·kap·ton·u·ria; al·las·so·ton·ic; an·a·glyp·ton;… …   English syllables

  • wan — aj·o·wan; ang·wan·ti·bo; at·ti·wan·da·ronk; bhil·a·wan; cu·li·la·wan; de·wan; dur·wan; for·wan·der; ikh·wan; me·ra·wan; ol·do·wan; ot·ta·wan; pa·ka·wan; pa·la·wan; pur·wan·nah; rit·wan; sar·wan; sas·katch·e·wan; sa·wan; sea·wan·ha·ka; se·wan;… …   English syllables

  • wantonness — wan·ton·ness …   English syllables

  • wanton — wan•ton [[t]ˈwɒn tn[/t]] adj. 1) done maliciously or unjustifiably: wanton cruelty[/ex] 2) deliberate and without motive; unprovoked: a wanton attack[/ex] 3) without regard for what is right, just, etc.; reckless: wanton assassination of a person …   From formal English to slang

  • wanton — wan|ton [ wantən ] adjective 1. ) causing harm or damage for no reason: a trail of wanton destruction 2. ) OLD FASHIONED a wanton woman has sex with a lot of men. This word shows that you think this behavior is immoral. ╾ wan|ton|ly adverb ╾… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 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

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