Emily Dickinson Lexicon

wayward (-est), adj. [aphetic form of awayward.] (webplay: go, light, travel).

1. Willful; unmanageable; hard to handle; out of line; [fig.] different; eccentric; outlandish; [word play] on her way home; [fig.] on the path to heaven.
2. Froward; peevish; perverse; contrary; [fig.] lost; prodigal.