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
- 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
- abound
- amuse oneself
- bask
- be in clover
- be insincere
- be insincere with
- bloom
- bluff
- burgeon
- carry on
- coquet
- cosset
- dabble
- dally
- dandle
- dawdle
- deceive
- delight
- dilly-dally
- doodle
- dupe
- eat up
- enjoy
- feast
- fiddle
- fidget
- flirt
- flourish
- fool
- fool around
- fool with
- fribble
- fritter
- frivol
- frolic
- futz around
- gambol
- gold-dig
- grow
- have a fling
- hoax
- horse around
- idle
- increase
- indulge in
- jest
- lead on
- live extravagantly
- live high on hog
- live in luxury
- live it up
- loiter
- lollygag
- lounge
- love
- make eyes at
- mess around
- mess with
- misuse
- monkey
- monkey with
- operate
- overdo
- palter
- pet
- philander
- play
- play around
- play games
- play games with
- play with
- potter
- put one over on
- putter
- relish
- revel
- riot
- roll
- rollick
- romp
- sport
- squander
- string along
- take for a ride
- take it easy
- tamper
- tease
- thrive
- titillate
- toy
- trifle
- twiddle
- use up
- vamp
- wallow
- wanton
- waste
- waste time
- wink at
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019