dwindle
verbUK, US /ˈdwɪn.dəl/
Etymology Frequentative form of dwine, from Middle English dwynen, from Old English dwīnan (“to waste away”), from Proto-West Germanic *dwīnan, from Proto-Germanic *dwīnaną. It is equivalent to dwine + -le, akin to Old Norse dvena, dvína, Dutch verdwijnen (“to disappear, dwindle”).
1
To decrease, shrink, diminish, reduce in size or intensity.
- Their supplies began to dwindle after a week.
- Interest in the project slowly dwindled.
4 more examples
- dwindle away
- dwindle to nothing
- dwindle steadily
- 1802, T. Paynell (translator), Erasmus, The Complaint of Peace [E]very thing that was improving gradually degenerates and dwindles away to nothing, […]
2
Figuratively To fall away in quality; degenerate, sink.
- VVearie Seu'nights, nine times nine, / Shall he dvvindle, peake, and pine: […]c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii], page 132, column 1:
- Religious Societies, though begun with excellent Intention, and by Perſons of true Piety, have dwindled into factious Clubs; […]1709, [Jonathan Swift], A Project for the Advancement of Religion, and the Reformation of Manners. […], London: […] Benj[amin] Tooke, […], →OCLC, page 44:
3 more examples
- The flattery of his friends began to dwindle into simple approbation.1766, [Oliver Goldsmith], chapter III, in The Vicar of Wakefield: […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), Salisbury, Wiltshire: […] B. Collins, for F[rancis] Newbery, […], →OCLC:
- The larger the empire, the more dwindles the mind of the citizen.1919, Boris Sidis, The Source and Aim of Human Progress:
- [I]nfected tulips are weakened by the viruses that cause the very patterns and swirls that fascinated horticulturists and investors in the first place. Such bulbs tend to dwindle away instead of fattening up and producing offsets.2014 September 26, Charles Quest-Ritson, “The Dutch garden where tulip bulbs live forever: Hortus Bulborum, a volunteer-run Dutch garden, is dedicated to conserving historic varieties before they vanish for good [print version: Inspired by a living bulb archive, 27 September 2014, p. G5]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Gardening):
3
To lessen; to bring low.
- Our drooping days are dwindled down to nought.a. 1749 (date written), James Thomson, “Spring”, in The Seasons, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, and sold by Thomas Cadell, […], published 1768, →OCLC:
4
To break up or disperse.
- there were only five hundred foot and three hundred horse left with him, for the blocking of Plymouth; the rest were dwindled away1702–1704, Edward [Hyde, 1st] Earl of Clarendon, (please specify |book=I to XVI), in The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, Begun in the Year 1641. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed at the [Sheldonian] Theater:
- Derived terms
- dwindlement, dwindles, dwindling, fall dwindle disease