dwindle
noun
- the process of dwindling; gradual diminution or decline
verb
- to become steadily less : shrink
- to make steadily less
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈdwɪn.dəl/
verb
Etymology: Frequentative form of dwine, from Middle English dwynen, from Old English dwīnan (“to waste away”), from Proto-West Germanic *dwīnan, from Proto-Germanic *dwīnaną. It is equivalent to dwine + -le, akin to Old Norse dvena, dvína, Dutch verdwijnen (“to disappear, dwindle”).
- To decrease, shrink, diminish, reduce in size or intensity.
“Their supplies began to dwindle after a week.”
“Interest in the project slowly dwindled.”
- To fall away in quality; degenerate, sink.
“VVearie Seu'nights, nine times nine, / Shall he dvvindle, peake, and pine: […]”
“Religious Societies, though begun with excellent Intention, and by Perſons of true Piety, have dwindled into factious Clubs; […]”
- To lessen; to bring low.
“Our drooping days are dwindled down to nought.”
- To break up or disperse.
“there were only five hundred foot and three hundred horse left with him, for the blocking of Plymouth; the rest were dwindled away”