dwindle etymology

Etymology:

• Old English dwindan "to decrease, grow less," probably of Germanic origin, related to dwinan "to perish" (Old High German dwīnēn), dwin "thin" (Old Norse tvinnr)
• Cognate with Old Irish tenn, Welsh tynnu "to draw, stretch"

Meaning:

• To become gradually less in size, quantity, or intensity
• To waste away or decrease

Origin:

It is believed that the word "dwindle" ultimately derives from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to spin" or "to turn." This suggests that the original sense of "dwindle" may have been "to become smaller by being spun out or stretched thinner." Over time, the word came to be used more generally for any kind of decrease or diminution.

dwindle relate terms

• starve

  Etymology of Starve Old English steorfan to die Proto Germanic sterban Indo Europ

• swelter

  Etymology Middle English swelten from Old English sweltan swelten to die perish

• fall

  Etymology Middle English fallen Old English feallan Proto Germanic fallaną Meani

• diminish

  Etymology Old French demenische Medieval Latin deminuo Latin deminuere de remove

• decrease

  Etymology Middle English decressen from Old French decroistre from Late Latin decr

• away

  Etymology The word away is derived from the Old English word awæg which is a compo

• down

  Etymology The word down has origins in several Germanic languages Old English dun

• illusion

  Etymology The word illusion derives from the Latin word illudere meaning to mock

• Babel

  Etymology The word Babel is derived from the Akkadian word Babilim which means The

• hunky dory

  Etymology Hunky Possibly from Hungarian hunk meaning brawn or muscle Dory Mea

• distress

  Etymology Old French destresse Late Latin districtius comparative of districtus mea