DWINDLE

dwindle. Dwindle, v.i. to shrink, fall away, grow feeble

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Dwin″dle (?), v. 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 dwindle, peak and pine. Shak. Religious societies, though begun with excellent intentions, are said to have dwindled into factious clubs. Swift.