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7 dictionary results for: dwindle

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

dwin·dle

[dwin-dl] Pronunciation Key verb, -dled, -dling.

–verb (used without object)

1.	to become smaller and smaller; shrink; waste away: His vast fortune has dwindled away.

2.	to fall away, as in quality; degenerate.

–verb (used with object)

3.	to make smaller and smaller; cause to shrink: Failing health dwindles ambition.

[Origin: 1590–1600; dwine (now dial.) to waste away (ME; OE dwīnan; c. MD dwīnen to languish, ON dvīna to pine away) + -le

]

—Synonyms 1. diminish, decline, lessen, wane. See decrease. 3. lessen.

—Antonyms 1. increase. 3. magnify.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

dwin·dle   (dwĭn'dl) Pronunciation Key
v.   dwin·dled, dwin·dling, dwin·dles

v.   intr.
To become gradually less until little remains.

v.   tr.
To cause to dwindle. See Synonyms at decrease.

[Frequentative of Middle English dwinen, to waste away, from Old English dwīnan, to shrink; see dheu-² in Indo-European roots.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
dwindle

1596, apparently dim. and freq. of M.E. dwinen "waste away, fade, vanish," from O.E. dwinan, from P.Gmc. *dwinanan (cf. Du. dwijnen "to vanish").

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

dwindle
verb
become smaller or lose substance; "Her savings dwindled down"

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Dwindle

Dwin"dle\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dwindled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dwindling.] [From OE. dwinen to languish, waste away, AS. dw[=i]nan; akin to LG. dwinen, D. dwijnen to vanish, Icel. dv[=i]na to cease, dwindle, Sw. tvina; of uncertain origin. The suffix -le, preceded by d excrescent after n, is added to the root with a diminutive force.] To diminish; to become less; to shrink; to waste or consume away; to become degenerate; to fall away.

Weary sennights nine times nine Shall he dwindle, peak and pine. --Shak.

Religious societies, though begun with excellent intentions, are said to have dwindled into factious clubs. --Swift.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Dwindle

Dwin"dle\, v. t. 1. To make less; to bring low.

Our drooping days are dwindled down to naught. --Thomson.

2. To break; to disperse. [R.] --Clarendon.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Dwindle

Dwin"dle\, n. The process of dwindling; dwindlement; decline; degeneracy. [R.] --Johnson.