Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun One who indulges in idle, foolish, and irreverent fancies or speculations. Also used adjectively.
- To indulge in vain, sportive, or over-subtle fancies; speculate idly or irreverently: with an indefinite it.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun archaic One who indulges in idle, foolish, and irreverent fancies or
speculations ; one who tries to be cleverly amusing but falls short. - verb archaic To indulge in vain, sportive, or irreverent
wit ; speculate idly or irreverently.
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
From wit + wanton
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Examples
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And Master Lynch bade him have a care to flout and witwanton as the god self was angered for his hellprate and paganry.
Ulysses 2003
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And Master Lynch bade him have a care to flout and witwanton as the god self was angered for his hellprate and paganry.
Ulysses James Joyce 1911
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Fuller warns men that they should not ‘witwanton’ with God.
English Past and Present Richard Chenevix Trench 1846
whichbe commented on the word witwanton
To engage in irreverent wit. (from Phrontistery)
May 24, 2008
fbharjo commented on the word witwanton
What does wit need?
March 25, 2013