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Wantonly

   Also found in: Legal, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
wan·ton  (wntn)
adj.
1. Immoral or unchaste; lewd.
2.
a. Gratuitously cruel; merciless.
b. Marked by unprovoked, gratuitous maliciousness; capricious and unjust: wanton destruction.
3. Unrestrainedly excessive: wanton extravagance; wanton depletion of oil reserves.
4. Luxuriant; overabundant: wanton tresses.
5. Frolicsome; playful.
6. Undisciplined; spoiled.
7. Obsolete Rebellious; refractory.
v. wan·toned, wan·ton·ing, wan·tons
v.intr.
To act, grow, or move in a wanton manner; be wanton.
v.tr.
To waste or squander extravagantly.
n.
1. One who is immoral, lewd, or licentious.
2. One that is playful or frolicsome.
3. One that is undisciplined or spoiled.

[Middle English wantowen : wan-, not, lacking (from Old English; see eu- in Indo-European roots) + towen, past participle of teen, to bring up (from Old English ton, to lead, draw; see deuk- in Indo-European roots).]

wanton·ly adv.
wanton·ness n.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adv.1.wantonly - in a wanton manner; "the animals were killed wantonly for sport"
2.wantonly - in a licentious and promiscuous manner; "this young girl has to share a room with her mother who lives promiscuously"


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
Ye have too cruel eyes, and ye look wantonly towards the sufferers.
It was far down the afternoon; and when all the spearings of the crimson fight were done: and floating in the lovely sunset sea and sky, sun and whale both stilly died together; then, such a sweetness and such plaintiveness, such inwreathing orisons curled up in that rosy air, that it almost seemed as if far over from the deep green convent valleys of the Manilla isles, the Spanish land-breeze, wantonly turned sailor, had gone to sea, freighted with these vesper hymns.
"Not those," I continued, pointing to an odd garment which the wind was wantonly puffing out in the quaintest way, "but that pretty petticoat and those silk stockings?
 
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