dwindle
/ˈdwɪndəl/
verb
Origin
Middle English
dwinen — to waste away, fade, or perish
Overview
Meaning Now
- To diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength.
- To shrink or waste away.
Literal older meaning
To become tiny or small.
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Middle English → Modern English
Earliest form
dwindlen
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The verb 'dwindle' evolved from the older English 'dwine'. The suffix '-le' was added in the late 16th century to turn the simple act of wasting away into a process of gradual, repetitive shrinking, which is exactly how the word is used today.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*dwinan
“to fade, vanish”
Reconstructed base meaning decline.
- Old English
dwinan
“to fade or waste away”
Strong verb.
- Middle English
dwine
“to decline or vanish”
Transition from strong to weak verb structure.
- 16th Century English
dwindle
“to become smaller or shrink”
Addition of the frequentative suffix -le.
Connections
Word parts
dwin
root
to fade
dle
suffix
frequentative or diminutive suffix indicating gradual action
Related across languages
Old Norse
dvína
to dwindle or fade
Middle Low German
dwinen
to pine away
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Related to dwindle
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.