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Loose vs Wanton - What's the difference?

loose | wanton | Related terms |

In transitive terms the difference between loose and wanton

is that loose is to make less tight, to loosen while wanton is to waste or squander, especially in pleasure (often with away).

In intransitive terms the difference between loose and wanton

is that loose is of a grip or hold, to let go while wanton is to act wantonly; to be lewd or lascivious.

In obsolete terms the difference between loose and wanton

is that loose is a state of laxity or indulgence; unrestrained freedom, abandonment while wanton is extravagant, unrestrained; excessive (of speech or thought).

As an interjection loose

is begin shooting; release your arrows.

loose

English

Etymology 1

(etyl) , whence also (m), (m), via Ancient Greek.

Verb

(loos)
  • To let loose, to free from restraints.
  • * Bible, Matthew xxi. 2
    • Ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her; loose them, and bring them unto me.
  • To unfasten, to loosen.
  • To make less tight, to loosen.
  • Of a grip or hold, to let go.
  • (archery) to shoot (an arrow)
  • (obsolete) To set sail.
  • * 1611 :
    • Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.
  • (obsolete) To solve; to interpret.
    • (Spenser)
    Synonyms
    * (let loose) free, release * (unfasten) loosen, unbind, undo, unfasten, untie * (make less tight) loosen, relax, slacken * (of grip or hold) let go, release * (archery) fire, shoot
    Antonyms
    * (let loose) bind, constrain * (unfasten) bind, fasten, tie * (make less tight) tighten * (of grip or hold) tighten * (archery) fast

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Not fixed in place tightly or firmly.
    • This wheelbarrow has a loose wheel.
  • Not held or packaged together.
    • You can buy apples in a pack, but they are cheaper loose .
  • Not under control.
    • The dog is loose again.
  • * Addison
    • Now I stand / Loose of my vow; but who knows Cato's thoughts?
  • Not fitting closely
    • I wear loose clothes when it is hot.
  • Not compact.
    • It is difficult walking on loose gravel.
    a cloth of loose texture
  • * Milton
    • with horse and chariots ranked in loose array
  • Relaxed.
    • She danced with a loose flowing movement.
  • Not precise or exact; vague; indeterminate.
    • a loose way of reasoning
  • * Whewell
    • The comparison employed must be considered rather as a loose analogy than as an exact scientific explanation.
  • .
    • Loose talk costs lives.
  • (dated) Free from moral restraint; immoral, unchaste.
  • * 1819 , Lord Byron, Don Juan , I:
    • In all these he was much and deeply read; / But not a page of any thing that's loose , / Or hints continuation of the species, / Was ever suffer'd, lest he should grow vicious.
  • * Spenser
    • loose ladies in delight
  • * Sir Walter Scott
    • the loose morality which he had learned
  • (not comparable, sports) Not being in the possession of any competing team during a game.
    • He caught an elbow going after a loose ball.
    The puck was momentarily loose right in front of the net.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=September 28 , author=Tom Rostance , title=Arsenal 2 - 1 Olympiakos , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Tomas Rosicky released the left-back with a fine pass but his low cross was cut out by Ivan Marcano. However the Brazilian was able to collect the loose ball, cut inside and roll a right-footed effort past Franco Costanzo at his near post.}}
  • (dated) Not costive; having lax bowels.
    • (John Locke)
    Synonyms
    * (not fixed in place tightly or firmly) * (not held or packaged together) separate, unpackaged * (not bound or tethered or leashed) free, untethered * (not fitting closely) baggy * (not compact) * (relaxed) loose-limbed, relaxed * (indiscreet) indiscreet * (promiscuous) polygamous, promiscuous, slutty, tarty, whorish
    Antonyms
    * (not fixed in place tightly or firmly) * (not held or packaged together) packaged * (not bound or tethered or leashed) bound, leashed, tethered, tied, tied up * (not fitting closely) close-fitting, snug, tight * (not compact) compact, firm * (relaxed) tense, tensed * (indiscreet) discreet * (promiscuous) faithful, monogamous
    Derived terms
    * break loose * cast loose * cut loose * hang loose * let loose * loosen * loose coupling * loose lip * on the loose * stay loose * turn loose

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (archery) The release of an arrow.
  • (obsolete) A state of laxity or indulgence; unrestrained freedom, abandonment.
  • (sports)
  • * 2011 , Tom Fordyce, Rugby World Cup 2011: England 12-19 France [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15210221.stm]
    • The defeat will leave manager Martin Johnson under pressure after his gamble of pairing Jonny Wilkinson and Toby Flood at 10 and 12 failed to ignite the England back line, while his forwards were repeatedly second best at the set-piece and in the loose .
  • Freedom from restraint.
    • (Prior)
  • * Addison
    • Vent all its griefs, and give a loose to sorrow.
  • A letting go; discharge.
    • (Ben Jonson)
    Derived terms
    * give a loose

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • (archery) begin shooting; release your arrows
    • Antonyms
    * fast

    Related terms

    * (l) * (l), (l) * (l) * (l)

    Anagrams

    *

    Etymology 2

    Verb

    (head)
    • I'm going to loose this game.
    Derived terms
    * looser

    wanton

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Undisciplined, unruly; not able to be controlled.
  • * 1605 , William Shakespeare, King Lear , IV.1:
    • As Flies to wanton Boyes are we to th' Gods, / They kill us for their sport.
  • Lewd, immoral; sexually open, unchaste.
  • * 1749 , Henry Fielding, Tom Jones :
    • if wenches will hang out lures for fellows, it is no matter what they suffer: I detest such creatures; and it would be much better for them that their faces had been seamed with the smallpox: but I must confess I never saw any of this wanton behaviour in poor Jenny [...].
  • * 1874 , Thomas Hardy, Far From the Madding Crowd :
    • I know I ought never to have dreamt of sending that valentine—forgive me, sir—it was a wanton thing which no woman with any self-respect should have done.
  • * 1946 , (Bertrand Russell), History of Western Philosophy , I.21:
    • People should not marry too young, because, if they do, the children will be weak and female, the wives will become wanton , and the husbands stunted in their growth.
  • (obsolete) Playful, sportive; being merry or carefree (often used figuratively).
  • * 1776 , Edward Gibbon, Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire , vol. 1:
    • The grave simplicity of the philosopher was ill calculated to engage her wanton levity, of to fix that unbounded passion for variety, which often discovered personal merit in the meanest of mankind.
  • (obsolete) Self-indulgent, fond of excess; luxurious.
  • * 1776 , Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations , Book I:
    • the market price will rise more or less above the natural price, according as either the greatness of the deficiency, or the wealth and wanton luxury of the competitors, happen to animate more or less the eagerness of the competition.
  • Capricious, reckless of morality, justice etc.; acting without regard for the law or the well-being of others; gratuitous.
  • * 1811 , Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility :
    • Edward himself, now thoroughly enlightened on her character, had no scruple in believing her capable of the utmost meanness of wanton ill-nature.
  • * 2009 , Ben White, The Guardian , 10 Aug 2009:
    • these developments in Gaza are a consequence of the state of siege that the tiny territory has been under – a society that has been fenced-in, starved, and seen its very fabric torn apart by unemployment and wanton military destruction.
  • (obsolete) Extravagant, unrestrained; excessive (of speech or thought).
  • * 1876 , John Ruskin, Letters , 19 Jan 1876:
    • But do not think it argues change of temper since I wrote the Frère review, or a wanton praise of one man and blame of another.

    Synonyms

    * (lewd) lewd, lustful, unchaste * (capriciously violent) inhumane, insolent, malicious, merciless * (abundant and luxuriant) abundant, extravagant, lavish, luxuriant, prodigal, unrestrained * frolicsome, playful * (undisciplined) undisciplined, unruly

    Derived terms

    * wanton kittens make sober cats

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A pampered or coddled person.
  • * Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
    • I would have thee gone — / And yet no farther than a wanton' s bird, / That lets it hop a little from her hand, / Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves, / And with a silken thread plucks it back again
  • An overly playful person; a trifler.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I am afeard you make a wanton of me.
  • * Ben Jonson
    • Peace, my wantons ; he will do / More than you can aim unto.
  • A self-indulgent person, fond of excess.
  • (archaic) A lewd or immoral person, especially a prostitute.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To rove and ramble without restraint, rule, or limit; to revel; to play loosely; to frolic.
  • * Milton
    • Nature here wantoned as in her prime.
  • * Lamb
    • How merrily we would sally into the fields, and strip under the first warmth of the sun, and wanton like young dace in the streams!
  • *
  • To waste or squander, especially in pleasure (often with away ).
    • The young man wantoned away his inheritance.
  • To act wantonly; to be lewd or lascivious.

    • Related terms

    * wantonly * wantonry English words prefixed with wan-