a. [ OE. wantoun, contr. from wantowen; pref. wan- wanting (see Wane, v. i.), hence expressing negation + towen, p. p., AS. togen, p. p. of teón to draw, to educate, bring up; hence, properly, ill bred. See Tug, v. t. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Untrained; undisciplined; unrestrained; hence, loose; free; luxuriant; roving; sportive. “In woods and wanton wilderness.” Spenser. “A wild and wanton herd.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A wanton and a merry [ friar ]. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ She ] her unadorned golden tresses wore
Disheveled, but in wanton ringlets waved. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

How does your tongue grow wanton in her praise! Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Wandering from moral rectitude; perverse; dissolute. “Men grown wanton by prosperity.” Roscommon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Specifically: Deviating from the rules of chastity; lewd; lustful; lascivious; libidinous; lecherous. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not with wanton looking of folly. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Thou art ] froward by nature, enemy to peace,
Lascivious, wanton. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Reckless; heedless; as, wanton mischief. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Wantoned p. pr. & vb. n. Wantoning. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To rove and ramble without restraint, rule, or limit; to revel; to play loosely; to frolic. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nature here wantoned as in her prime. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

How merrily we would sally into the fields, and strip under the first warmth of the sun, and wanton like young dace in the streams! Lamb. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To sport in lewdness; to play the wanton; to play lasciviously. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cause to become wanton; also, to waste in wantonness. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A roving, frolicsome thing; a trifler; -- used rarely as a term of endearment. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am afeard you make a wanton of me. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Peace, my wantons; he will do
More than you can aim unto. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One brought up without restraint; a pampered pet. [ 1913 Webster ]

Anything, sir,
That's dry and wholesome; I am no bred wanton. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A lewd person; a lascivious man or woman. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To behave wantonly; to frolic; to wanton. [ R. ] Lamb. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In a wanton manner; without regularity or restraint; loosely; sportively; gayly; playfully; recklessly; lasciviously. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Unintentionally; accidentally. [ Obs. ] J. Dee. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being wanton; negligence of restraint; sportiveness; recklessness; lasciviousness. Gower. [ 1913 Webster ]

The tumults threatened to abuse all acts of grace, and turn them into wantonness. Eikon Basilike. [ 1913 Webster ]

Young gentlemen would be as sad as night
Only for wantonness. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]