wanton

Meanings

Adjective

• Undisciplined, unruly; not able to be controlled.
• Playful, sportive; merry or carefree.
• Lewd, immoral; sexually open, unchaste.
• Capricious, reckless of morality, justice etc.; acting without regard for the law or the well-being of others; gratuitous.
• Extravagant, unrestrained, excessive.

Noun

• A pampered or coddled person.
• An overly playful person; a trifler.
• A self-indulgent person, fond of excess.
• A lewd or immoral person, especially a prostitute.

Verb

• To rove and ramble without restraint, rule, or limit; to revel; to play loosely; to frolic.
• To waste or squander, especially in pleasure (most often with away).
• To act wantonly; to be lewd or lascivious.

Related

Similar words

• frolicsome, playful
• lewd, lustful, unchaste
• inhumane, callous, merciless
• extravagant, lavish, luxuriant, prodigal, unrestrained

Origin

• From Middle English wantoun, wantowen, wantoȝen, wantowe, from wan- + towen, itowen, from Old English togen, ġetogen, past participle of tēon, equivalent to wan- + towed.