wan
1
[ won ]
/ wɒn /
adjective, wan·ner, wan·nest.
of an unnatural or sickly pallor; pallid; lacking color: His wan face suddenly flushed.
showing or suggesting ill health, fatigue, unhappiness, etc.: a wan look; a wan smile.
lacking in forcefulness, competence, or effectiveness: their wan attempts to organize the alumni.
Archaic.
- dark or gloomy.
- pale in color or hue.
verb (used with or without object), wanned, wan·ning.
to become or make wan.
Origin of wan
1
before 900; Middle English; Old English
wann dark, gloomy
SYNONYMS FOR wan
OTHER WORDS FROM wan
wan·ly, adverb wan·ness, nounWords nearby wan
Example sentences from the Web for wanness
British Dictionary definitions for wanness (1 of 2)
wan
/ (wɒn) /
adjective wanner or wannest
unnaturally pale esp from sickness, grief, etc
characteristic or suggestive of ill health, unhappiness, etc
(of light, stars, etc) faint or dim
verb wans, wanning or wanned
to make or become wan
Derived forms of wan
wanly, adverb wanness, nounWord Origin for wan
Old English
wann dark; related to
wanian to
wane
British Dictionary definitions for wanness (2 of 2)
WAN
abbreviation for
wide area network
Nigeria (international car registration)
Word Origin for WAN
From
W(est) A(frica) N(igeria)
Scientific definitions for wanness
WAN
[ wăn ]
Short for wide area network.A communications network that uses such devices as telephone lines, satellite dishes, or radio waves to span a larger geographic area than can be covered by a LAN. The Internet is a WAN.