Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To indulge in vain, sportive, or over-subtle fancies; speculate idly or irreverently: with an indefinite it.
  • noun One who indulges in idle, foolish, and irreverent fancies or speculations. Also used adjectively.

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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Fuller warns men that they should not ‘witwanton’ with God.

    English Past and Present Richard Chenevix Trench 1846

Comments

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  • To engage in irreverent wit. (from Phrontistery)

    May 24, 2008

  • What does wit need?

    March 25, 2013