waned

Waned is the past tense and past participle of the verb wane, meaning to decrease in size, extent, strength, or intensity, or to dim in brightness. It can describe abstract quantities such as interest, influence, or energy, as well as physical phenomena that lessen over time, such as daylight or light from a source. In common usage, waned implies a gradual decline rather than a sudden drop.

In astronomy, waning refers specifically to the Moon’s phase after a full moon, when the visible illuminated portion decreases toward the new moon. The term is used in scientific descriptions as well as in everyday language to describe diminishing light or significance. The opposite concept is waxing, which denotes an increase or growth in illumination or amount.

Etymology-wise, waned comes from Old English wanian, meaning to fade or wither, rooted in Germanic origins. The form waned is the standard English past tense and past participle. In usage, waned can appear in various contexts: “The crowd’s enthusiasm waned after the delay,” or “The Moon has waned to a crescent.” The related present participle is waning, and the noun form waning is used in phrases like “waning visibility.” See also terms like waxing, moon phases, diminish, and decline.