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Added 9 October 2026

wanton

/ˈwɒntən/ adjective

In Latin: petulcus, cupidus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about wanton at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Undisciplined, unruly; not able to be controlled.
Playful, sportive; merry or carefree.
Lewd, immoral; sexually open, unchaste.

noun

A pampered or coddled person.
An overly playful person; a trifler.
A self-indulgent person, fond of excess.

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).
The young man wantoned away his inheritance.
To act wantonly; to be lewd or lascivious.

noun

wonton (Chinese dumpling)

Origin

From Middle English wantoun, wantowen, wantoȝen, wantowe (“uneducated; unrestrained; licentious; sportive; playful”), from wan- (“not, un-, mis-”) + towen, i-towen (“educated”, literally “towed; led; drawn”), from Old English togen, ġetogen, past participle of tēon (“to train, discipline”), equivalent to wan- + towed.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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