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verb (used without object)
1.
to decrease in strength, intensity, etc.: Daylight waned, and night came on. Her enthusiasm for the cause is waning.
2.
to decline in power, importance, prosperity, etc.: Colonialism began to wane after World War II.
3.
to draw to a close; approach an end: Summer is waning.
4.
(of the moon) to decrease periodically in the extent of its illuminated portion after the full moon. Compare wax2 (def. 2).
noun
5.
a gradual decrease or decline in strength, intensity, power, etc.
6.
the drawing to a close of life, an era, a period, etc.
7.
the waning of the moon.
8.
a period of waning.
9.
a defect in a plank or board characterized by bark or insufficient wood at a corner or along an edge, due to the curvature of the log.
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Waning
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
10.
on the wane, decreasing; diminishing: The popularity of that song is on the wane.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English wanen (v.), Old English wanian to lessen; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle High German wanen, Old Norse vana to cause to wane, destroy
before 900; Middle English wanen (v.), Old English wanian to lessen; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle High German wanen, Old Norse vana to cause to wane, destroy
Related forms
un·waned, adjective
un·wan·ing, adjective
Synonyms
1, 2. diminish, fail, sink. 5. diminution; failure, decay.
1, 2. diminish, fail, sink. 5. diminution; failure, decay.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To waning
Example Sentences
- Bidding often is slow until the waning minutes.
- With her waning strength, she haltingly dragged a chair several inches out from the table.
- He was half an hour late, and it looked as if her patience was waning.
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
wane
O.E. wanian "make or become smaller gradually," from P.Gmc. *wanojanan (cf. O.S. wanon, O.N. vana, O.Fris. wania, M.Du. waenen, O.H.G. wanon "to wane, to grow less"), from *wano- "lacking," from PIE *we-no-, from base *eue- "to leave, abandon, give out" (see vain). Related: waned, wanes.
EXPANDCOLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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