■ adjective
1》 (of a cruel or violent action) deliberate and unprovoked.
2》 sexually immodest or promiscuous.
3》 literary growing profusely; luxuriant.
↘lively; playful.
■ noun archaic a sexually immodest or promiscuous woman.
■ verb archaic or literary
1》 play; frolic.
2》 behave in a sexually immodest or promiscuous way.
Derivatives
~ly adverb
~ness noun
Origin
ME wantowen 'rebellious, lacking discipline', from wan- 'badly' + OE togen 'trained' (rel. to team and tow 1 ).