Wane \Wane\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Waned}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Waning}.] [OE. wanien, AS. wanian, wonian, from wan, won,
deficient, wanting; akin to D. wan-, G. wahnsinn, insanity,
OHG. wan, wana-, lacking, wan?n to lessen, Icel. vanr
lacking, Goth. vans; cf. Gr. ? bereaved, Skr. ?na wanting,
inferior. ????. Cf. {Want} lack, and {Wanton}.]
1. To be diminished; to decrease; -- contrasted with {wax},
and especially applied to the illuminated part of the
moon.

Like the moon, aye wax ye and wane.
Waning moons their settled periods keep. --Addison.

2. To decline; to fail; to sink.

You saw but sorrow in its waning form. --Dryden.

Land and trade ever will wax and wane together.
--Sir J.
Child.