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WANTON
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I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Lewd or lascivious woman
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("wanton" is a kind of...):
sensualist (a person who enjoys sensuality)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "wanton"):
light-o'-love; light-of-love (a woman inconstant in love)
Derivation:
wanton (engage in amorous play)
wanton (indulge in a carefree or voluptuous way of life)
wanton (casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior
Example:
wanton behavior
Synonyms:
easy; light; loose; promiscuous; sluttish; wanton
Classified under:
Similar:
unchaste (not chaste)
Derivation:
wanton (lewd or lascivious woman)
wantonness (the quality of being lewd and lascivious)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Occurring without motivation or provocation
Example:
unprovoked and dastardly attack
Synonyms:
motiveless; unprovoked; wanton
Classified under:
Similar:
unmotivated (without motivation)
Derivation:
wantonness (the trait of lacking restraint or control; reckless freedom from inhibition or worry)
III. (verb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Behave extremely cruelly and brutally
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Hypernyms (to "wanton" is one way to...):
act; behave; do (behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Sense 2
Meaning:
Engage in amorous play
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "wanton" is one way to...):
butterfly; chat up; coquet; coquette; dally; flirt; mash; philander; romance (talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Derivation:
wanton (lewd or lascivious woman)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Become extravagant; indulge (oneself) luxuriously
Synonyms:
luxuriate; wanton
Classified under:
Hypernyms (to "wanton" is one way to...):
consume; squander; ware; waste (spend extravagantly)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Sense 4
Meaning:
Spend wastefully
Example:
wanton one's money away
Synonyms:
trifle away; wanton; wanton away
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "wanton" is one way to...):
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 5
Meaning:
Indulge in a carefree or voluptuous way of life
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Hypernyms (to "wanton" is one way to...):
live (lead a certain kind of life; live in a certain style)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Derivation:
wanton (lewd or lascivious woman)
Sense 6
Meaning:
Waste time; spend one's time idly or inefficiently
Synonyms:
piddle; piddle away; trifle; wanton; wanton away
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Hypernyms (to "wanton" is one way to...):
drop; expend; spend (pay out)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Context examples:
That Lucy had certainly meant to deceive, to go off with a flourish of malice against him in her message by Thomas, was perfectly clear to Elinor; and Edward himself, now thoroughly enlightened on her character, had no scruple in believing her capable of the utmost meanness of wanton ill-nature.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
"I—have thought about them," Ruth confessed, remembering the wanton thoughts that had vexed her in the past, her face again red with maiden shame that she should be telling such things.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
“You have read Darwin,” I said. “But you read him misunderstandingly when you conclude that the struggle for existence sanctions your wanton destruction of life.”
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
The thing was so unreasonable, so wanton.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
Pick out some great, wanton flame of a woman, who laughs at life and jeers at death and loves one while she may.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
Mentally she was in a panic to shoot the bolts and drop the bars into place, while wanton instincts urged her to throw wide her portals and bid the deliciously strange visitor to enter in.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
