Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Wane
Wane
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Waned
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Waning
.] [OE.
wanien
, AS. wanian
, wonian
, from wan
, won
, deficient, wanting; akin to D. wan-
, G. wahn
sinn, insanity, OHG. wan
, wana-
, lacking, wan[GREEK]n
to lessen, Icel. vanr
lacking, Goth. vans
; cf. Gr. [GREEK] bereaved, Skr. [GREEK]na
wanting, inferior. [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK]. Cf. Want
lack, and Wanton
.] 1.
To be diminished; to decrease; – contrasted with
wax
, and especially applied to the illuminated part of the moon. Like the moon, aye wax ye and
wane
.Waning
moons their settled periods keep. Addison.
2.
To decline; to fail; to sink.
You saw but sorrow in its
waning
form. Dryden.
Land and trade ever will wax and
wane
together. Sir J. Child.
Wane
,Verb.
T.
To cause to decrease.
[Obs.]
B. Jonson.
Wane
,Noun.
1.
The decrease of the illuminated part of the moon to the eye of a spectator.
2.
Decline; failure; diminution; decrease; declension.
An age in which the church is in its
wane
. South.
Though the year be on the
wane
. Keble.
3.
An inequality in a board.
[Prov. Eng.]
Halliwell.
Webster 1828 Edition
Wane
WANE
,Verb.
I.
1.
To be diminished; to decrease; particularly applied to the illuminated part of the moon. WE say, the moon wanes, that is, the visible or illuminated part decreases.Waning moons their settled periods keep.
2.
To decline; to fail; to sink; as the waning age of life.You saw but sorrow in its waning form.
Land and trade ever will wax and wane together.
WANE
,Verb.
T.
WANE
,Noun.
1.
Decrease of the illuminated part of the moon, to the eye of a spectator.2.
Decline; failure; diminution; decrease; declension.You are cast upon an age in which the church is in its wane.