Middle English Dictionary Entry
wantoun adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | wantoun adj. Also wantoun(n)e, wantowen, wanton(e, wantton, wantun, wauntoun, wauntone, vanton, (in early surname) wantogen & ? wantǒun, etc. & (?errors) wantow(e, wantons, wenton, (errors) watoune, waton. |
| Etymology | From towen , toun, togen, p.ppl. of tẹ̄n v.(1). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. untowen ppl.
1.
(a) Not properly or sufficiently controlled, ill-governed, unregulated; also, lacking in discipline, inclined to recklessness; also, inappropriate, contrary to the dictates of good manners [occas. difficult to distinguish from (c)];
(b) resistant to control, recalcitrant, refractory; also, given to rebelliousness, willfulness, insolent behavior, etc.; as noun: one who is incorrigible or ill-behaved;
(c) extravagant; also, ?overabundant [quot. ?a1425]; of a person: given to excessive pleasure-seeking, overexuberant, rowdy; as noun: a sportive or playful person, reveler [1st quot., prob. with allusion to (d)]; also as playful term of address [quot. c1450 ?C.d’Orl. ];
(d) pertaining to sexual indulgence, lewd, lascivious; of a person: given to lechery, lustful; promiscuous, of easy virtue; also fig. [quot. a1450, prob. with allusion to (c)];
(e) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)10.57 : Whonne Blod is Bremore þen Brayn, þen is Inwit I-bounde And eke wantoun and wylde withouten eny Resoun.
- a1425(a1396) Maidstone PPs. (Wht)205 : For wanton worde and ydel othe And many a werk of wyckednesse, I drede thy dome.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)346/15 : Þei goon synginge & lawhinge, spendinge her tymes in vanytees, in delicis, & in grete vnhonestees, wantowne in all þingis.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)308 : By þe keping of þis circumstaunce is excludid fro þy service al wantowne fersenes in speking.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)12 : Sum couettis & has comforth to carpe & to lestyn…of wirschip…slike as þam wyse lattis, And sum of wanton werkis, þa þat ere wild-hedid.
- c1450 Lydg.SPuer(1) (Lamb 853)20 : Take good hede bi wisdom & resoun þat bi no wantowne lauȝinge þou do noon offence.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)53/32 : Oure maner of mouyng þe heed, þe hond, or eny oþir parti of oure body…be not ouer sad and heuy, neiþir ouer liȝt and wanton.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)136/16 : Oftyn lawghyng takyth a-wey reuerens…for it is a token of a wantown hert.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)1230 : ‘A,’ seyde Reason, ‘then I know well that felawe; Wylde he ys & wanton, of me stant hym noon awe.’
- c1500 *Certes fer extendeth (Trin-C R.3.19)109b : To slake your loue for yef ye do not so That wanton lyst woll turne yow in to wo.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11953 : Yur sun, þat wantun and þat wild, Wit his banning has slan vr child.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)1767 : Ioseþ…þan ihesus smate; He sayde, ‘Þu sulde…Fra wanton childer draw.’
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)9/6 : A wantoun wille to be refreined nedith a bridel of arest.
- a1425 MChristi (Arun 286)48/139 : A hors is an unresonble best…ȝif he be wylde and wantoune, it is nedeful þat he have a scharpe and a hevy bridel.
- a1425 MChristi (Arun 286)61/1611 : Brede is riȝtful and þe ȝarde to þe wantoun servaunte: brede þat he feyle noȝt, þe ȝarde þat he waxe noȝt to nyse or to wantounne.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)519 : Wax wanton [KC: wantowe]: Insolesco.
- a1450(a1401) Chastising GC (Bod 505)113/18 : If þe childe wex wanton, she betiþ him…wiþ a litel rodde.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)360/5 : Þe wantone ȝowþ in me hatid wordes of blamynge for my trespasse; y wolde not obey to hem þat tauȝten me.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)8/25 : For euel felauchip þat he was falle in…for insolens of his wauntown age, he used tauernes and stewis.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)91/6 : Wantown pride shuld be repressid.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)135b : Wantton: Insolens.
- c1480 *Medulla (Pep 2002)102a : Indomitus: Wenton [Stnh: vntowne] or Wylde.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)190/21 : Man…is hardy as a lyon…profytabyl as a bee, wantoun [Ashmole: dissolut] and vagabunde as a bor, ontame as a bole.
c
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.208 : A frere ther was, a wantowne [vr. watoune] and a merye.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)159b/a : Digested it is to farmacie…ne in þe bigynnyngz suple in drawing it out or fordoyng it þof al it be done in aleging as it is seid wher þe materie is wanton [L lasciuiant] & wode.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)99/2960 : The rewler of this habitacioun Hight tyme a-past, which with glad countenaunce Seide me, ‘Wanton [F Amy], haue ye yet found sesoun To come and take here this poore soiournaunce?’
- c1450 Earth(3) (Lamb 853)15/21 : Wrecchid erþe…trauelist nyȝt and day, To florische þe erþe, to peynte þe erþe with wantowne aray.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)181 : Þei be wanton now, but þen [at Judgment] xall þei be sade.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)8442 : The marchandes sye that chylde Pley in þe halle so wanton and wylde.
d
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.236 : Whan it fil that he myghte hire espye, He noght with wantowne [vrr. wantow, wantons, wauntone, wauntoun, waton] lookyng of folye His eyen caste on hire, but in sad wyse Vpon hir cheere he wolde hym ofte auyse.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1846 : He song ful loude and clere And kiste his wyf and made wantown cheere; He was al coltyssh, ful of ragerye.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)4.143 : Alle wommen wantowen shulleþ be war by þe one, And biterliche banne þe and alle þat bereþ þy name.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)8.300 : Ich haue ywedded a wyf…wel wantowen of maneres; Where [vr. Were] ich seuenyght fro hure syghit, seggen [vrr. sinege, synnen] he wolde…and saye ich loue anoþere.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)687 : O wher is now al þe wantoun moneye That I was maister of…Whan I knewe nat what pouert was to sey?
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget(3) (Gar 145)22/4 : He muste also tylle with hys erres, that he here no vanton thynges.
- a1500(1465) Leversedge Vision (Add 34193)124/494 : Þer was no blasing of kerchifes nor shewing of of hir brestis and [read: as] many of þis wanton women and undiscreet women usyn and were.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10824 : Oft in wanton werkes wex þai with childe.
e
- (1200) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.1278 : Galfridus Wantogen.