Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Dwindle
Dwin′dle
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Dwindled
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dwindling
.] [From OE.
dwinen
to languish, waste away, AS. dwīnan
; akin to LG. dwinen
, D. dwijnen
to vanish, Icel. dvīna
to cease, dwindle, Sw. tvina
; of uncertain origin. The suffix -le
, preceded by d excrescent after n, is added to the root with a diminutive force.] To diminish; to become less; to shrink; to waste or consume away; to become degenerate; to fall away.
Weary sennights nine times nine
Shall he
Shall he
dwindle
, peak and pine. Shakespeare
Religious societies, though begun with excellent intentions,
are said to have
are said to have
dwindled
into factious clubs. Swift.
Dwin′dle
,Verb.
T.
1.
To make less; to bring low.
Our drooping days are
dwindled
down to naught. Thomson.
2.
To break; to disperse.
[R.]
Clarendon.
Dwin′dle
,Noun.
The process of dwindling; dwindlement; decline; degeneracy.
[R.]
Johnson.
Webster 1828 Edition
Dwindle
DWIN'DLE
,Verb.
I.
1.
To diminish; to become less; to shrink; to waste or consume away. The body dwindles by pining or consumption; an estate swindles by waste, by want of industry or economy; an object dwindles in size, as it recedes from view; an army dwindles by death or desertion.Our drooping days have dwindled down to naught.
2.
To degenerate; to sink; to fall away.Religious societies may dwindle into factious clubs.
DWIN'DLE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To break; to disperse.