Wane Definition

wān
waned, wanes, waning
verb
waned, wanes, waning
To diminish gradually in extent.
Webster's New World
To become less intense, bright, strong, etc.; grow dim or faint, as a light.
Webster's New World
To show a progressively smaller illuminated area, as the moon does in passing from full to new.
American Heritage
To decline in power, importance, prosperity, influence, etc.
Webster's New World
To approach the end.
The day wanes.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
noun
wanes
The act or process of gradually declining or diminishing.
American Heritage
The time when this takes place.
Webster's New World
The gradual decrease in the visible face of the moon after it has become full.
Webster's New World
A gradual decrease in power, importance, intensity, etc., esp. after a gradual climb to a peak.
Webster's New World
A period of decline.
Webster's New World
idiom
on the wane
  • In a period of decline or decrease:
American Heritage
on the wane
  • waning, declining, decreasing, etc.
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Wane

Noun

Singular:
wane
Plural:
wanes

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Wane

Origin of Wane

  • The noun is derived from Old English wana (“defect, shortage"); the verb, from Old English wanian via Middle English wanien. Both ultimately trace to a Germanic root *wano-, compare also Dutch waan (“insanity") and German Wahn (“insanity") deprecated defect, Old Norse vanr (“lacking") (> Danish prefix van-, only found in compounds), Latin vanus, Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌽𐍃 (wans, “missing, lacking"), Albanian vonë (“late, futile, mentally retarded"), Armenian Õ¸Ö‚Õ¶Õ¡ÕµÕ¶ (unayn, “empty"), Old Saxon and Old High German wanon (“to decrease"), Modern Dutch weinig (“a few"), Modern German weniger (“less"), comparative of wenig (“few") ("-ig" being a derivatem suffix, "-er" the suffix of comparatives).

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English wōne, wāne (“dwelling," "custom"), of unclear origins, compare wont.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English wanen from Old English wanian euə- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Scots wean.

    From Wiktionary

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