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

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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

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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

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