DWINDLING
dwindling, tapering, tapering off
(adjective) gradually decreasing until little remains
dwindling, dwindling away
(noun) a becoming gradually less; “there is no greater sadness that the dwindling away of a family”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Verb
dwindling
present participle of dwindle
Adjective
dwindling (comparative more dwindling, superlative most dwindling)
declining; growing less
Noun
dwindling (plural dwindlings)
A gradual reduction to nothing.
Source: Wiktionary
DWINDLE
Dwin"dle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dwindled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dwindling.]
Etym: [From OE. dwinen to languish, waste away, AS. dwinan; akin to
LG. dwinen, D. dwijnen to vanish, Icel. dvina 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.]
Definition: 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 dwindle, peak and pine.
Shak.
Religious societies, though begun with excellent intentions, are said
to have dwindled into factious clubs. Swift.
Dwin"dle, v. 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, n.
Definition: The process of dwindling; dwindlement; decline; degeneracy.
[R.] Johnson.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition