A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Wanto(u)nlie, -ly, adv. Also: vanto(u)nly, wantownly, wanttonly. [ME and e.m.E. wantownely (Chaucer), wantounly (Gower), wantonly (c1400), vantounly (Lydgate).] a. In an unrestrained or over-indulgent manner; extravagantly, luxuriously; excessively.a1400 Leg. S. vi 466.
The flesche, that ve fed here Maste vantonly in daynttis sere a1400 Leg. S. xvi 307.
Thi wame also Wantonly thu farcis with met ?1438 Alex. i 83.
Thay raid, armit wantonlie, On startand steidis of Arabie c1460 Thewis Gud Women 71.
Dant nocht women, our-wantonly a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 416.
Quhair is thy chalmer wantounlie besene With burely bed and bankouris browderit bene c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 372.
He … airlie in the morne him drest, Wantonlie, in his weirlyke weid, All weill enarmit, saif the heidd
b. In an undisciplined manner, recklessly; carelessly; haughtily; mischievously.c1420 Wynt. v 5100.
Trow noucht thi wyff on thi serwand Quhen scho ys wantownly hym wrethand 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 165.
On the heychast lytill tender twyste, With wyng displayit, scho sat full wantounlie a1538 Abell 93a.
Wantonlie ridand at Kingorn he fell & brak his nek 1570 Sat. P. x 126.
Scho did vs all abandoun wantounlie … All the nycht lang, to sport, sing, dance and play
c. In a carefree manner, sportively, jovially.c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 479.
Me think the best bourd quhen … all my luffaris lele my lugeing persewis And fyllis me wyne wantonly with weilfair and joy 1513 Doug. xi x 26.
[The horse] Heich strekand vp his hed with mony a ne, Out our his spaldis and nek lang by and by His lokkyrrit mayn schakand wantonly [Sm. wantounly] 1540 Lynd. Sat. 552 (B).
Gife he be wiskand wanttonly We sall fling on the fleuir 1549 Compl. 37/16.
I beheld the pretty fische vantounly stertland vitht there rede vermeil fynnis 1567 G. Ball. 205.
Syne in the mirk, he weill culd wirk, And kitill thame wantounlie
