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
Synonyms:
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

Wane Sentence Examples

  • About half-past eight the combat began to wane, and the last shots were fired at ten.

  • With the growth of wealth and security the martial spirit of the Order began to wane, and so also did its friendly relations with the Maltese.

  • When the Moorish empire began to wane the brilliant intellectual gifts which they had so abundantly nourished during three or four centuries became enfeebled, and after that period they failed to produce an author comparable with those of the 7th to the 11th centuries.

  • But his health was failing, his reputation was on the wane, his works did not sell, and he gradually sank a prey to illness and disappointment.

  • This discomfort should wane after a day, though.

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Words Starting With

WWAWAN

Words Ending With

ENEANE

Unscrambles

wane

Words Starting With W and Ending With E

Starts With W & Ends With EStarts With WA & Ends With EStarts With W & Ends With NE

Word Length

4 Letter Words4 Letter Words Starting With W4 Letter Words Ending With E