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adj. 1. a. Lascivious or promiscuous. Used especially of women. b. Exciting or expressing sexual desire: a wanton pose. 2. Marked by unprovoked, gratuitous maliciousness; capricious and unjust: wanton destruction. 3. Unrestrainedly excessive: wanton extravagance. 4. Luxuriant; overabundant: wanton tresses. 5. Frolicsome; playful: a wanton fawn. 6. Obsolete Rebellious; refractory. intr.v. wan·toned, wan·ton·ing, wan·tons 1. To behave in a wanton manner; act lasciviously. 2. To move idly or playfully. n. One, especially a woman, who is licentious or promiscuous. [Middle English wantowen : wan-, not, lacking (from Old English; see euə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots) + towen, past participle of teen, to bring up (from Old English tēon, to lead, draw; see deuk- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).] wanton·ly adv. wanton·ness n. |
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