to decrease in strength, intensity, etc.: Daylight waned, and night came on. Her enthusiasm for the cause is waning.
to decline in power, importance, prosperity, etc.: Colonialism began to wane after World War II.
to draw to a close; approach an end: Summer is waning.
(of the moon) to decrease periodically in the extent of its illuminated portion after the full moon.Compare wax2(def 2).
noun
a gradual decrease or decline in strength, intensity, power, etc.
the drawing to a close of life, an era, a period, etc.
the waning of the moon.
a period of waning.
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.
Idioms
on the wane, decreasing; diminishing: The popularity of that song is on the wane.
Origin of wane
before 900;Middle Englishwanen (v.), Old Englishwanian to lessen; cognate with Middle Dutch,Middle High Germanwanen,Old Norsevana to cause to wane, destroy
Related formsun·waned, adjectiveun·wan·ing, adjectiveCan be confusedwanewax
Old English wanian "make or become smaller gradually," from Proto-Germanic *wanojanan (cf. Old Saxon wanon, Old Norse vana, Old Frisian wania, Middle Dutch waenen, Old High German wanon "to wane, to grow less"), from *wano- "lacking," from PIE *we-no-, from root *eue- "to leave, abandon, give out" (see vain). Related: Waned; waning; wanes.
