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Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary

May 17, 2012

Project::Noah

It is not only important, but, in a degree necessary, that the people of this country, should have an American Dictionary of the English language; for, although the body of the language is the same as in England, and it is desirable to perpetuate that sameness, yet some differences must exist. Language is the expression of ideas; and if the people of one country cannot preserve an identity of ideas, they cannot retain an identity of language.

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(5) Words.

wanton
wantoning
wantonize
wantonly
wantonness

Webster

KJV

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1828 Definition

WANTON, a.

1. Wandering or roving in gaiety or sport; sportive; frolicsome; darting aside, or one way and the other. Wanton boys kill flies for sport.

Not a wild and wanton herd.

2. Moving or flying loosely; playing in the wind.

She her unadorned golden tresses wore disheveld, but in wanton ringlets wavd.

3. Wandering from moral rectitude; licentious; dissolute; indulging in sensuality without restraint; as men grown wanton by prosperity.

My plenteous joys, wanton in fullness--

4. More appropriately, deviating from the rules of chastity; lewd; lustful; lascivious; libidinous.

Thou art froward by nature, enemy to peace, lascivious wanton.

Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton. James 5.

5. Disposed to unchastity; indicating wantonness. Isaiah 3.

6. Loose; unrestrained; running to excess.

How does your tongue grow wanton in her praise!

7. Luxuriant; overgrown.

What we by day lop overgrown, one night or two with wanton growth derides, tending to wild.

8. Extravagant; as wanton dress.

9. Not regular; not turned or formed with regularity.

The quaint mazes in the wanton green.

WANTON, n.

1. A lewd person; a lascivious man or woman.

2. A trifler; an insignificant flutterer.

3. A word of slight endearment.

Peace, my wanton--[Little used.]

WANTON, v.t.

1. To rove and ramble without restraint, rule or limit; to revel; to play loosely.

Nature here wantond as in her prime.

Her golden tresses wanton in the wind.

2. To ramble in lewdness; to play lasciviously.

3. To move briskly and irregularly.

1913 Definition

Wanton (wanton)
a.	(?)
Wan"ton
[OE. wantoun, contr. from wantowen; pref. wan- wanting (see Wane, v. i.

Untrained; undisciplined; unrestrained; hence, loose; free; luxuriant; roving; sportive.

"In woods and wanton wilderness." Spenser. "A wild and wanton herd." Shak.

A wanton and a merry [friar]. Chaucer.

[She] her unadorned golden tresses wore
Disheveled, but in wanton ringlets waved. Milton.

How does your tongue grow wanton in her praise! Addison.

Wandering from moral rectitude; perverse; dissolute.

"Men grown wanton by prosperity." Roscommon.

Specifically: Deviating from the rules of chastity; lewd; lustful; lascivious; libidinous; lecherous.

Not with wanton looking of folly. Chaucer.

[Thou art] froward by nature, enemy to peace,
Lascivious, wanton. Shak.

Reckless; heedless; as, wanton mischief.

A roving, frolicsome thing; a trifler; -- used rarely as a term of endearment.

I am afeard you make a wanton of me. Shak.

Peace, my wantons; he will do
More than you can aim unto. B. Jonson.

One brought up without restraint; a pampered pet.

Anything, sir,
That's dry and wholesome; I am no bred wanton. Beau. *** Fl.

A lewd person] a lascivious man or woman.

To rove and ramble without restraint, rule, or limit] to revel; to play loosely; to frolic.

Nature here wantoned as in her prime. Milton.

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! Lamb.

To sport in lewdness; to play the wanton; to play lasciviously.

To cause to become wanton; also, to waste in wantonness.

[Obs.]

Noah Says...

If a republican government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the divine commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the laws.

History of the United States :: 1832

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Project::Noah

More info ...

The foundation for American Heritage Access [AHA] strives to capture the essence of American culture with an intent to make early American manuscripts accessible to modern society. We believe that the successful future of this country is dependent on honoring and respecting its past. In order to achieve this ideal, several projects will be introduced and executed. The first initiatives of Project::Noah will involve the accessibility of the 1828 American dictionary.

Vision::Reprint

More info ...

The first vision, Vision::Reprint, has an intent to make a modern printing of the first dictionary of the American language available to the public for under $25. The first task, Task::Access, involves the digitizing of the original 1828 dictionary. The dictionary is available in microfilm (American Culture Series, Reel 335.6-336.1, Michigan University Microfilms) at many universities. To digitize the microfilm as a batch process requires a special scanner.

Vision::Redesign

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The second vision, Vision::Redesign, has an intent to improve the current online accessibility to the 1828 dictionary. Beyond the Task::XML, other tasks related to this Vision::Redesign include identifying features and functionality for this new website. In addition, plugins will be discussed and created to make the dictionary accessible in other ways: iPhone, Google widget, Firefox Add-on, etc.

Vision::Recapture

More info ...

The third vision, Vision::Recapture, has an intent to evoke the importance of Noah Webster in our American Heritage. This vision will manifest itself in a commissioned painting of Noah Webster. The process involved will require the input from concerned Americans. The final commission painting will be derived from initial sketches and digital compositions. Feedback from the community is essential for this vision's success throughout the entire process.

May 17, 2012