wane
[weyn]
- 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).
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- 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.
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- on the wane, decreasing; diminishing: The popularity of that song is on the wane.
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Origin of wane
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
Synonyms
See more synonyms for wane on Thesaurus.com1, 2. diminish, fail, sink. 5. diminution; failure, decay.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for waning
Contemporary Examples
For progressives, the waning days of 2014 should be as dark a moment as their movement has faced since 2004.
The government report states the “outbreak [of beetles] is waning.”
As we enter the waning years of the Obama Administration, America remains as divided as ever on matters of race.
As Michael Brown Grand Jury Winds Down, Is Ferguson on the Brink of War?Ron Christie
November 16, 2014
However, her popularity is waning as the big 3-0 approaches, so Garfield decides to dump her at an antique furniture store.
'BoJack Horseman': The Debauched Tales of a Drunken, Groupie-Sexing D-List Horse, Hits NetflixMarlow Stern
August 22, 2014
Some are taking concrete steps to take control of their waning youth.
Historical Examples
Thus in the season of the waning days the might of England put forth on to the waters.
The White CompanyArthur Conan Doyle
Octavos are waning, and more in need of brushing than of burnishing.
Now sun and moon begin to mingle: waning and waxing splendors.
Italy, the Magic LandLilian Whiting
No birds sang here, no leaves fell at the waning of the year.
Olive in ItalyMoray Dalton
The question haunted her through the waning days and the lonely nights.
Winning His WayCharles Carleton Coffin
wane
- (of the moon) to show a gradually decreasing portion of illuminated surface, between full moon and new moonCompare wax 2 (def. 2)
- to decrease gradually in size, strength, power, etc
- to draw to a close
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- a decrease, as in size, strength, power, etc
- the period during which the moon wanes
- the act or an instance of drawing to a close
- a rounded surface or defective edge of a plank, where the bark was
- on the wane in a state of decline
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Word Origin
Old English wanian (vb); related to wan-, prefix indicating privation, wana defect, Old Norse vana
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for waning
adj.
Old English wanunge, wonunge, present participle of wanian (see wane).
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wane
v.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with waning
wane
see wax and wane.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.