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wane

   Also found in: Acronyms, Idioms, Wikipedia 0.04 sec.
wane  (wn)
intr.v. waned, wan·ing, wanes
1. To decrease gradually in size, amount, intensity, or degree; decline.
2. To exhibit a decreasing illuminated area from full moon to new moon.
3. To approach an end.
n.
1. The act or process of gradually declining or diminishing.
2.
a. A time or phase of gradual decrease.
b. The period of the decrease of the moon's illuminated visible surface.
3. A defective edge of a board caused by remaining bark or a beveled end.
Idiom:
on the wane
In a period of decline or decrease: "The tide was near the turn and already the day was on the wane" James Joyce.

[Middle English wanen, from Old English wanian; see eu- in Indo-European roots.]

wane
Verb
[waning, waned]
1. to decrease gradually in size, strength, or power: the influence of the extremists is waning
2. (of the moon) to show a gradually decreasing area of brightness from full moon until new moon
Noun
on the wane decreasing in size, strength, or power: his fame was on the wane [Old English wanian]
waning adj
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.wanewane - a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number)
decline, diminution - change toward something smaller or lower
Verb1.wane - grow smaller; "Interest in the project waned"
decrease, diminish, lessen, fall - decrease in size, extent, or range; "The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester"; "The cabin pressure fell dramatically"; "her weight fell to under a hundred pounds"; "his voice fell to a whisper"
dip - go down momentarily; "Prices dipped"
wear on - pass slowly (of time); "The day wore on"
drop - go down in value; "Stock prices dropped"
2.wane - become smaller; "Interest in his novels waned"
decrease, diminish, lessen, fall - decrease in size, extent, or range; "The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester"; "The cabin pressure fell dramatically"; "her weight fell to under a hundred pounds"; "his voice fell to a whisper"
mount, wax, climb, rise - go up or advance; "Sales were climbing after prices were lowered"
3.wanewane - decrease in phase; "the moon is waning"
decrease, diminish, lessen, fall - decrease in size, extent, or range; "The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester"; "The cabin pressure fell dramatically"; "her weight fell to under a hundred pounds"; "his voice fell to a whisper"
full, wax - increase in phase; "the moon is waxing"

wane
verb 1. decline, flag, weaken, diminish, fall, fail, drop, sink, fade, decrease, dim, dwindle, wither, lessen, subside, ebb, wind down, die out, fade away, abate, draw to a close, atrophy, taper off << OPPOSITE grow
2. diminish, decrease, dwindle << OPPOSITE wax >> on the wane declining, dropping, fading, weakening, dwindling, withering, lessening, subsiding, ebbing, dying out, on the way out, on the decline, tapering off, obsolescent, on its last legs, at its lowest ebb
Translations
Spanish wane [weɪn] vimenguar
French wane [weɪn] vi [moon] → décroître; [reputation] → décliner
German wane [weɪn] vi [moon] → abnehmen; [influence etc] → schwinden
Italian wane [weɪn] vi [moon] → calare; [reputation] → declinare

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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
now, with the subordinate phantoms, what wonder remained soon waned away; for in a whaler wonders soon wane.
Thus, in the most brutal and formidable of the soldier class -- creatures almost on a level with women in their lack of intelligence -- it is found that, as they wax in the mental ability necessary to employ their tremendous penetrating power to advantage, so do they wane in the power of penetration itself.
The moon, on the wane, scarcely left the horizon, and was covered with heavy clouds; the height of the trees deepened the darkness.
 
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