v. arch. Also 6–7 wantonnize. [f. WANTON a. and sb. + -IZE.]
1. intr. To play the wanton; to dally, sport, frolic; to indulge in lasciviousness.
1592. Daniel, Rosamond, K 3 b. Sweetly it fits the fair to wantonise.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, I. xxix. 98. It is women communicate their partes as much as a man list to wantonize with them.
1613. W. Browne, Brit. Past., I. iv. (1616), 79. When the prettie Rill a place espies, Where with the Pibbles she would wantonize.
1661–98. South, 12 Serm., III. 279. The mind of Man … would, if let alone, lash out, and Wantonize in a boundless enjoyment and Gratification of all its Appetites, and Inclinations.
1826. Lamb, Elia, Sanity of True Genius. The judgment might with some plea be pardoned if it ran riot, and a little wantonized.
† b. with it.
1611. Cotgr., Rager, lasciuiously to toy, dallie, or wantonnize it.
1652. Earl Monm., trans. Bentivoglio’s Hist. Relat., 55. The Spring for many moneths together doth wantonnize it there.
† c. quasi-trans. with away.
1673. Hickeringill, Gregory, Father-Greyb., 43. Wantonizing away their time and opportunities to do good.
2. trans. To make wanton. rare.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iii. I. Vocation, 236. Their Wealth so growes, that, wantoniz’d withall, Their envious Shepheards broach a civill Brawl.
1652. Benlowes, Theoph., XI. xxxi. 197. Prosperitie’s a gin If wantoniz’d breeds storms within.
1908. Smart Set, June, 49. Pure are your lips and eyes; Must years onpressing Teach you to wantonize Them in caressing?
Hence Wantonizing vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, To Rdrs. A 4 b. Wherin I follow the trace of the famousest schollers of all ages, whom a wantonizing humour once in their life time hath possesst to play with strawes.
1612. W. Parkes, Curtaine-Dr. (1876), 29. The coyest wantonizing Citty-dame.
1633. Earl Manch., Al Mondo (1636), 153. Pride … must be counted State,… Wantonising, a tricke of youth.
1640. trans. Verdere’s Rom. of Rom., II. xxxix. 148. A thousand amorous wantonizing[s].
