WAN • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Wan

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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

... answer, but stared past her. Another figure was standing, erect and mournful, not far behind her. It was Joiwind. Her face was wan, and there was an accusing look in her eyes. Maskull knew that it was a phantasm, and that the real Joiwind ...

— A Voyage to Arcturus • David Lindsay

... cheek grows wan, And sorrow's shafts fly thicker, Ye Stars, that measure life to man, Why ...

— The Home Book of Verse, Vol. 1 (of 4) • Various

... what you'd done me a real service, nephew," continued Uncle Israel. "Here I've been takin' this, month after month, an' never suspectin' what it was doin' in my insides. I've suspicioned for some time that the pain-killer wan't doin' me no good, an' I've been goin' to try Doctor Jones's Squaw Remedy, anyhow. I shouldn't wonder if my whole insides was green instead of red as they orter be. The next time I go to the City, I'm goin' to take ...

— At the Sign of the Jack O'Lantern • Myrtle Reed

... lofty tiara of jewels, her white Ionic robe half hidden by a crimson shawl, there sat the vestal, the philosopher. What did she there? But the boy's eager eyes, accustomed but too well to note every light and shade of feeling which crossed that face, saw in a moment how wan and haggard was its expression. She wore a look of constraint, of half-terrified self-resolve, as of a martyr: and yet not an undoubting martyr; for as Orestes turned his head at the stir of Philammon's intrusion, and flashing with anger at the sight, motioned him fiercely back, ...

— Hypatia - or, New Foes with an Old Face • Charles Kingsley

... saw the ring and knew it, and waxed as wan as a dead woman, and she went home and spake no word the ...

— The Story of the Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) - With Excerpts from the Poetic Edda • Anonymous

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