1. The state of not having; the condition of being without anything; absence or scarcity of what is needed or desired; deficiency; lack; as, a want of power or knowledge for any purpose; want of food and clothing. [ 1913 Webster ]

And me, his parent, would full soon devour
For want of other prey. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

From having wishes in consequence of our wants, we often feel wants in consequence of our wishes. Rambler. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pride is as loud a beggar as want, and more saucy. Franklin. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Specifically, absence or lack of necessaries; destitution; poverty; penury; indigence; need. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nothing is so hard for those who abound in riches, as to conceive how others can be in want. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which is needed or desired; a thing of which the loss is felt; what is not possessed, and is necessary for use or pleasure. [ 1913 Webster ]

Habitual superfluities become actual wants. Paley. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Mining) A depression in coal strata, hollowed out before the subsequent deposition took place. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Indigence; deficiency; defect; destitution; lack; failure; dearth; scarceness. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To be without; to be destitute of, or deficient in; not to have; to lack; as, to want knowledge; to want judgment; to want learning; to want food and clothing. [ 1913 Webster ]

They that want honesty, want anything. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor think, though men were none,
That heaven would want spectators, God want praise. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The unhappy never want enemies. Richardson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To have occasion for, as useful, proper, or requisite; to require; to need; as, in winter we want a fire; in summer we want cooling breezes. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To feel need of; to wish or long for; to desire; to crave. “ What wants my son?” Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

I want to speak to you about something. A. Trollope. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To be absent; to be deficient or lacking; to fail; not to be sufficient; to fall or come short; to lack; -- often used impersonally with of; as, it wants ten minutes of four. [ 1913 Webster ]

The disposition, the manners, and the thoughts are all before it; where any of those are wanting or imperfect, so much wants or is imperfect in the imitation of human life. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be in a state of destitution; to be needy; to lack. [ 1913 Webster ]

You have a gift, sir (thank your education),
Will never let you want. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

For as in bodies, thus in souls, we find
What wants in blood and spirits, swelled with wind. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Want was formerly used impersonally with an indirect object. “Him wanted audience.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

1. Untrained; undisciplined; unrestrained; hence, loose; free; luxuriant; roving; sportive. “In woods and wanton wilderness.” Spenser. “A wild and wanton herd.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A wanton and a merry [ friar ]. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ She ] her unadorned golden tresses wore
Disheveled, but in wanton ringlets waved. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

How does your tongue grow wanton in her praise! Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Wandering from moral rectitude; perverse; dissolute. “Men grown wanton by prosperity.” Roscommon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Specifically: Deviating from the rules of chastity; lewd; lustful; lascivious; libidinous; lecherous. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not with wanton looking of folly. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Thou art ] froward by nature, enemy to peace,
Lascivious, wanton. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Reckless; heedless; as, wanton mischief. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am afeard you make a wanton of me. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Peace, my wantons; he will do
More than you can aim unto. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One brought up without restraint; a pampered pet. [ 1913 Webster ]

Anything, sir,
That's dry and wholesome; I am no bred wanton. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A lewd person; a lascivious man or woman. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To rove and ramble without restraint, rule, or limit; to revel; to play loosely; to frolic. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nature here wantoned as in her prime. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To sport in lewdness; to play the wanton; to play lasciviously. [ 1913 Webster ]