adj.
- (of a cruel or violent action) deliberate and unprovoked.
- sexually immodest or promiscuous.
- literary growing profusely; luxuriant.
▸lively; playful.
n.
archaic a sexually immodest or promiscuous woman.
v.
archaic or
literary - play; frolic.
- behave in a sexually immodest or promiscuous way.
Derivative
- wantonly adv.
- wantonness n.
Etymology
ME wantowen ‘rebellious, lacking discipline’, from wan- ‘badly’ + OE togen ‘trained’ (rel. to team and tow1).