wanton

  • adjective 1 (of a cruel or violent action) deliberate and unprovoked. 2 sexually immodest or promiscuous. 3 literary growing profusely; luxuriant.

  • noun archaic a sexually immodest or promiscuous woman.

  — DERIVATIVES wantonly adverb wantonness noun.

  — ORIGIN originally in the sense rebellious, lacking discipline: from obsolete wan- badly + Old English togen trained.

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