wanton

Word Origin & History

c.1300, wan-towen, "resistant to control; willful," from Middle English privative prefix wan- "wanting, lacking" (from Old English wan "wanting;" see wane) + togen, past participle of teon "to train, discipline;" literally "to pull, draw," from Proto-Germanic *teuhan (cf. Old High German ziohan "to pull;" see tug). The basic notion perhaps is "ill-bred, poorly brought up;" cf. German ungezogen "ill-bred, rude, haughty," literally "unpulled."

Especially of sexual indulgence from late 14c. The only English survival of a once-common Germanic negating prefix still active in Dutch (cf. wanbestuur "misgovernment," wanluid "discordant sound"), German (wahn-), etc. Related: Wantonly; wantonness.

Example Sentences for wanton

How could I have imagined that a young noble would be grateful, or a wanton true?

This language is wanton cruelty,—it is fiendish insult,—is it not, Evelyn?

But I wad sing on wanton wing, When youthfu' May its bloom renew'd.

Wherefore a man ought not to play the wanton, but should learn in season.

Faithful had been assailed by 'Wanton,' and had been obliged to fly from her.

But the wanton lures me to a village far from the road on the other side of the gorge.

Why, all being as you say, should he work so wanton a destruction?

"'Twas that wanton at Malpas was the cause of all," he complained.

There was a wanton insolence in the spirit of this outrage which appalled even me.

Lay all of these wanton and vain-glorious notions out of your head.

wanton

most sportive

naughty

obscene

outrageous

passionate

perfervid

prodigal

profligate

wanton

More words related to wanton

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