Kwijnen

Kwijnen is a Dutch verb that describes a gradual decline in health or vitality, often leading to weakness and emaciation. It can refer to people, animals, or even plants. The term implies a slow wasting away, a loss of strength, and a general state of unwellness without a sudden or acute cause.

When a person is said to be "kwijnen," it suggests they are not actively sick with a specific disease but are becoming weaker and paler, perhaps due to prolonged stress, poor nutrition, or a general lack of well-being. In animals, kwijnen might describe a calf or lamb that fails to thrive, becoming thin and listless. Similarly, a plant can be described as "kwijnen" if it is not growing well, its leaves are yellowing, and it appears generally unhealthy.

The word often carries a sense of quiet suffering or a passive deterioration. It's not typically used for a dramatic, rapid decline but rather for a slow, almost imperceptible fading. Recovery from a state of kwijnen implies a gradual return to health and vigor. The term is evocative and paints a picture of a slow loss of life force.