\Wan"ton\, a. [OE. wantoun, contr. from wantowen; pref.
wan- wanting (see {Wane}, v. i.), hence expressing negation +
towen, p. p., AS. togen, p. p. of te['o]n to draw, to
educate, bring up; hence, properly, ill bred. See {Tug}, v.
t.]
1. Untrained; undisciplined; unrestrained; hence, loose;
   free; luxuriant; roving; sportive. ``In woods and wanton
   wilderness.'' --Spenser. ``A wild and wanton herd.''
   --Shak.
         A wanton and a merry [friar].         --Chaucer.
         [She] her unadorned golden tresses wore Disheveled,
         but in wanton ringlets waved.         --Milton.
         How does your tongue grow wanton in her praise!
                                               --Addison.
2. Wandering from moral rectitude; perverse; dissolute. ``Men
   grown wanton by prosperity.'' --Roscommon.
3. Specifically: Deviating from the rules of chastity; lewd;
   lustful; lascivious; libidinous; lecherous.
         Not with wanton looking of folly.     --Chaucer.
         [Thou art] froward by nature, enemy to peace,
         Lascivious, wanton.                   --Shak.
4. Reckless; heedless; as, wanton mischief.

\Wan"ton\, n.
1. A roving, frolicsome thing; a trifler; -- used rarely as a
   term of endearment.
         I am afeard you make a wanton of me.  --Shak.
         Peace, my wantons; he will do More than you can aim
         unto.                                 --B. Jonson.
2. One brought up without restraint; a pampered pet.
         Anything, sir, That's dry and wholesome; I am no
         bred wanton.                          --Beau. & Fl.
3. A lewd person; a lascivious man or woman.

\Wan"ton\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Wantoned}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Wantoning}.]
1. To rove and ramble without restraint, rule, or limit; to
   revel; to play loosely; to frolic.
         Nature here wantoned as in her prime. --Milton.
         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.
2. To sport in lewdness; to play the wanton; to play
   lasciviously.

\Wan"ton\, v. t.
To cause to become wanton; also, to waste in wantonness.
[Obs.]