WAN • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Wan

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/wɑn/ Listen

verb

Win v. t. (past & past part. won, obs. wan; pres. part. winning)

To gain by superiority in competition or contest; to obtain by victory over competitors or rivals; as, to win the prize in a gate; to win money; to win a battle, or to win a country. "This city for to win." "Who thus shall Canaan win." "Thy well-breathed horse Impels the flying car, and wins the course."

To allure to kindness; to bring to compliance; to gain or obtain, as by solicitation or courtship. "Thy virtue wan me; with virtue preserve me." "She is a woman; therefore to be won."

To gain over to one's side or party; to obtain the favor, friendship, or support of; to render friendly or approving; as, to win an enemy; to win a jury.

To come to by toil or effort; to reach; to overtake. (Archaic) "Even in the porch he him did win." "And when the stony path began, By which the naked peak they wan, Up flew the snowy ptarmigan."

(Mining) To extract, as ore or coal.

Synonyms: To gain; get; procure; earn. See Gain.

Wan v. i. To grow wan; to become pale or sickly in looks. "All his visage wanned." "And ever he mutter'd and madden'd, and ever wann'd with despair."

Win v. i. (past & past part. won, obs. wan; pres. part. winning) To gain the victory; to be successful; to triumph; to prevail. "Nor is it aught but just That he, who in debate of truth hath won, should win in arms."

To win of, to be conqueror over. (Obs.)

To win on or To win upon.

(a)

To gain favor or influence with. "You have a softness and beneficence winning on the hearts of others."

(b)

To gain ground on. "The rabble... will in time win upon power."

Wan past obs. of Win. Won.

adjective

Wan adj. (compar. wanner; superl. wannest) Having a pale or sickly hue; languid of look; pale; pallid. "Sad to view, his visage pale and wan." "My color... (is) wan and of a leaden hue." "Why so pale and wan, fond lover?" "With the wan moon overhead."

noun

Wan n. The quality of being wan; wanness. (R.) "Tinged with wan from lack of sleep."

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Etymology of 'Wan'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Wan" Quotes from Famous Books

... my scarlet cloak on and drew the hood over my head, and it tumbled my hair," she said, with a little wan smile. Already the glamour of the wedding was giving way to the sorrow of parting. "I had my hat under my cloak. Oh, anwl! I am ...

— By Berwen Banks • Allen Raine

... strike down our ancient enemy of England, and show you men how it is not wine and wickedness that make good soldiers!" cried the girl whom he called Elliot, her face rose-red with anger; and from her eyes two blue rays of light shot straight to mine, so that I believe my face waxed wan, the ...

— A Monk of Fife • Andrew Lang

... looked round the ragged moor, brooding in the twilight, and half hesitated. Then she forced a wan little smile. ...

— Uncanny Tales • Various

... the hills and valleys with its voice. The night is stooping to the west, the day is rising from the east, the morning red is leaping from the clouds, the sun looks through. The moon quenches her light; now she is pale and wan, but erewhile with false glamours she dazzled all the sheep and turned them from their ...

— The Development of the Feeling for Nature in the Middle Ages and - Modern Times • Alfred Biese

... a very seemilar case," broke in Snecky Hobart, shrilly. "Maist o' ye'll mind 'at Donal was michty plague't wi' a drucken wife. Ay, weel, wan day Bowie's man was carryin' a coffin past Donal's door, and Donal an' the wife was there. Says Donal, 'Put doon yer coffin, my man, an' tell's wha it's for.' The laddie rests the coffin on its end, an' says he, 'It's for Davie Fairbrother's ...

— Auld Licht Idylls • J. M. Barrie

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