Antonyms for wantoning


Grammar : Verb
Spell : won-tn
Phonetic Transcription : ˈwɒn tn


Definition of wantoning

Origin :
  • c.1300, wan-towen, "resistant to control; willful," from Middle English privative prefix wan- "wanting, lacking" (from Old English wan "wanting;" see wane) + togen, past participle of teon "to train, discipline;" literally "to pull, draw," from Proto-Germanic *teuhan (cf. Old High German ziohan "to pull;" see tug). The basic notion perhaps is "ill-bred, poorly brought up;" cf. German ungezogen "ill-bred, rude, haughty," literally "unpulled."
  • As Flies to wanton Boyes are we to th' Gods, They kill vs for their sport. [Shakespeare, "Lear," 1605]
  • Especially of sexual indulgence from late 14c. The only English survival of a once-common Germanic negating prefix still active in Dutch (cf. wanbestuur "misgovernment," wanluid "discordant sound"), German (wahn-), etc. Related: Wantonly; wantonness.
  • As in luxuriate : verb indulge, prosper
  • As in string along : verb play with; keep dangling
  • As in toy : verb play with
  • As in trifle : verb toy with; mess around
  • As in coquet : verb tease
  • As in dally/dally with : verb have love affair
Example sentences :
  • The inhabitants, heedless and careless as before, are wantoning and revelling.
  • Extract from : « The Little Gleaner, Vol. X. » by Various
  • We find him renewing his favourite pastimes—killing, wantoning, disputing with his employers, and working diligently at his trade.
  • Extract from : « Renaissance in Italy Vol. 3 » by John Addington Symonds
  • It murmured glittering in the sun; it seemed to sing as on it run, enchanting while a wantoning, as in a merry dream.
  • Extract from : « Legends of Florence » by Charles Godfrey Leland
  • The flowers grew in the sarcophagi with a wild exuberance, wantoning, it seemed, in mockery of the tomb from which they sprang.
  • Extract from : « Mrs. Craddock » by W. Somerset Maugham
  • The noble Persian chooses time most fit For wantoning,—the hour of sacrifice And battle prayer.
  • Extract from : « The Mortal Gods and Other Plays » by Olive Tilford Dargan

Synonyms for wantoning

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019