All 8 Uses of
wanton
in
The Canterbury Tales
- A FRIAR there was, a wanton and a merry,
A limitour <18>, a full solemne man.†Chpt 1.0
- Somewhat he lisped for his wantonness,
To make his English sweet upon his tongue;
And in his harping, when that he had sung,
His eyen* twinkled in his head aright, *eyes
As do the starres in a frosty night.†Chpt 1.0
- *destroys
It will not come again, withoute dread,*
No more than will Malkin's maidenhead,<2>
When she hath lost it in her wantonness.†Chpt 2.5
- My fourthe husband was a revellour;
This is to say, he had a paramour,
And I was young and full of ragerie,* *wantonness
Stubborn and strong, and jolly as a pie.†Chpt 3.6
- Upon Griselda, this poor creature,
Full often sithes* this marquis set his eye, *times
As he on hunting rode, paraventure:* *by chance
And when it fell that he might her espy,
He not with wanton looking of folly
His eyen cast on her, but in sad* wise *serious
Upon her cheer* he would him oft advise;** *countenance **consider
Commending in his heart her womanhead,
And eke her virtue, passing any wight
Of so young age, as well in cheer as deed.†Chpt 4.9
- And after that he sang full loud and clear,
And kiss'd his wife, and made wanton cheer.†Chpt 4.10
- He was all coltish, full of ragerie * *wantonness
And full of jargon as a flecked pie.†Chpt 4.10
- And wantonly again with him she play'd,
Chpt 7.15 *wantonly = in an inappropriate sexual manner
Definitions:
-
(1)
(wanton) of something considered bad: excessive, thoughtless indulgence -- such as waste, cruelty, violence, and (especially in the past) sexual promiscuity
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) In classic literature, wanton can also describe people who are playful or plants that are growing profusely.