wantonlyadv.
/ˈwɒnt(ə)nli/, U.S. /ˈwɑntnli/, /ˈwɔntnli/ 1. Without regard for right or consequences; in a way that betrays delight in wrongdoing or mischief, wilfully; recklessly; gratuitously.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > [adverb] > carelessly or heedlessly > in evil-doing
wantonlya1393
wantingly1774
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iv. l. 1017 He the hors withoute lawe The carte let aboute drawe Wher as hem liketh wantounly.
a1450 Rule St. Benet (Vesp.) (1902) l. 2393 (MED) Wantunly if þai haf wroght Outher in word or dede or thoght, Of god þai sal ask for-gifnes.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 55 Why wrought ye so wantonly in your wilde yre.
1566 T. Stapleton Returne Vntruthes Jewelles Replie iii. 90 He denieth Christ wantonly.
1648 J. Beaumont Psyche ii. cii. 21 That face which I Wantonly scorn'd, and cast my love away.
1676 J. Dryden Aureng-Zebe iv. 58 But do not wantonly my passion move.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones I. ii. vi. 127 To pardon great Criminals wantonly, without any Reason whatever. View more context for this quotation
1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall III. xxxi. 229 The Goth..expressed..his lively sense of the insult so wantonly offered to his person.
1801 H. M. Williams Sketches Manners French Republic II. 217 The [Spartan] tribunal which condemned a boy to death for wantonly plucking out the eyes of a bird.
1842 W. W. Story Rep. Circuit Court U.S.: 1st Circuit 1 462 Expenses and costs wantonly and unnecessarily occurred.
1888 A. H. Smith Catal. Engraved Gems Brit. Mus. 228 The [Portland] vase was wantonly broken..by a scene-painter, named William Lloyd.
1931 Eng. Hist. Rev. 46 247 Game was destroyed wantonly, parks were ravaged of their deer.
1960 A. MacLean Night without End ix. 173 Only fools kill wantonly and unnecessarily.
2007 N.Y. Times Bk. Rev. 3 June 10/2 Rant contracts a wicked case of rabies, which he wantonly spreads through Middleton.
2. With lustful intent, lasciviously; flirtatiously; voluptuously. In early use (also): luxuriously; lavishly.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > [adverb]
untowelya1230
jollilyc1400
wantonlyc1405
small?c1450
nice?1544
loosely1548
licentiously1561
liberally1596
naughtily1609
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Shipman's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 381 And wantownely agayn with hym she pleyde.
c1450 tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Lyfe Manhode (Cambr.) (1869) 87 (MED) Wantounliche thou wolt hose him and take him noble robes.
1490 Caxton's Blanchardyn & Eglantine (1962) xxii. 72 The smylynges and fayre shewes of their eyen, whiche wauntonly they caste full often vpon that yonge knyght.
1538 T. Elyot Dict. Delicatus, delycate, wantonlye broughte vppe.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 531 The bishop saw..that vittailes were not wantonly consumed, nor vainely spent.
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. vi. xx. 224/1 Wantonly clad in the habit of an Amazon woman; alwaies costly, but seldome ciuill.
1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 89 Some of our young men..would talk wantonly with them [sc. the women].
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 466. ⁋3 The flippant insipidly Gay and wantonly Forward, whom you behold among Dancers.
1781 Gospel Mag. Jan. 8 Elated with pride, and wantonly adorned to allure the unwary.
1812 ‘G. Colman’ Eccentric Tales vi. 67 Now Master Francis was not quite so blind, But could perceive the conduct of his spouse; Too late he found her wantonly inclined, And shrewdly fancied she had deck'd his brows.
1856 G. S. Weaver Aims & Aids for Girls & Young Women iii. 47 These damp winter winds..kiss wantonly many an unprotected neck.
1934 J. C. Powys Weymouth Sands 201 While she looked at him she smiled wantonly, provocatively.
1991 C. James Brrm! Brrm! (1992) ix. 95 In his imagination, Jane sprawled wantonly and laughed.
2009 E. Wildes Face of Maiden xi. 144 She wantonly desired..to lie beneath him.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > playfulness > [adverb]
gamelya1375
gamefullyc1410
gamesomelya1425
wantonlya1475
sportfullya1586
sportively1597
lasciviously1607
puppy-like1617
sportinglya1639
playsomely1646
playfully1736
disportively1810
kittenishly1896
a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Vitell.) l. 11249 (MED) She held a gloue vantounly [Fr. iouant], And tournyd yt fful ffetysly Aboute hyr ffyngres vp & doun.
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) vi. 29 I beheld the pretty fische vantounly stertland vitht there rede vermeil fynnis.
1612 M. Drayton Poly-olbion viii. 121 She..oft in-Iles the shore, as wantonly she flowes.
a1625 J. Fletcher Pilgrim v. iv, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Iiiiiv/2 How wantonly The wind blowes through the leafes, and courts, and playes with 'em.
1663 A. Cowley Country Mouse 9 A Mouse of high degree, which lost his way, Wantonly walking forth to take the Air.
1777 W. Jones Seven Fountains 37 Some wantonly were tripping in a ring.
1832 Sportsman's Cabinet Dec. 100/2 When sheep skip and play wantonly, rain may be expected.
1865 W. H. G. Kingston Antony Waymouth x. 209 The shady groves beneath which the cool breeze played wantonly.
1892 S. Baring-Gould In Roar of Sea III. liii. 232 Here and there curls of smoke descended, dropped capriciously from the bed of vapour above, and wantonly played about.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2014; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adv.a1393- for whon that
- for why
- for why that
- for wilnesful
- for wood
- for world
- for worship
- for wreak of
- for year and year
- for year into year
- for yonks
- for yore
- for your behalf
- for your ears only
- for your eyes only
- for þan
- for'ard on!
- for, , of, to a certainty
- for, , of, to certainty
- for, at obs, of, to a certainty
- for, at obs, of, to certainty
- for, before, fore george
- for, in ensample
- for, in, of, to a certainty
- for, in, of, to certainty