wan·ton (wŏn'tən)
adj.

1. Immoral or unchaste; lewd.
2. 1. Gratuitously cruel; merciless.
   2. Marked by unprovoked, gratuitous maliciousness; capricious and unjust: wanton destruction.
3. Unrestrainedly excessive: wanton extravagance; wanton depletion of oil reserves.
4. Luxuriant; overabundant: wanton tresses.
5. Frolicsome; playful.
6. Undisciplined; spoiled.
7. Obsolete. Rebellious; refractory.

v., -toned, -ton·ing, -tons.

v.intr.
To act, grow, or move in a wanton manner; be wanton.

v.tr.
To waste or squander extravagantly.

n.

1. One who is immoral, lewd, or licentious.
2. One that is playful or frolicsome.
3. One that is undisciplined or spoiled.

[Middle English wantowen : wan-, not, lacking (from Old English) + towen, past participle of teen, to bring up (from Old English tēon, to lead, draw).]

wantonly wan'ton·ly adv.
wantonness wan'ton·ness n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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