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Wan Very Common

Wan has 11 different meanings across 4 categories:

Noun · Verb · Adjective · Proper Noun

Definitions
Noun
1

a computer network that spans a wider area than does a local area network

"The company decided to upgrade their infrastructure from a local area network to a wan to connect all their remote offices across the country."

2

The quality of being wan; wanness.

"The WAN connection allowed the branch offices to share data seamlessly across different cities."

3

Pronunciation spelling of one, representing Ireland English.

4

Acronym of wide area network.

In plain English: A wan is an old-fashioned word for someone who looks pale and tired because they are sick or worried.

"The moon was full and bright, not showing its usual wan shape during this lunar phase."

Usage: The noun form wan is an archaic or dialectal variant used only in specific Irish contexts to mean "one," and it should not be confused with the common adjective describing pale appearance. In standard modern English, use the numeral "one" for counting and avoid using wanness, as there is no recognized noun meaning derived from the word's primary adjectival sense of paleness.

Verb
1

become pale and sickly

"After hours in the hot sun, his face turned wan from exhaustion."

wan
2

simple past tense and past participle of win.

"I had wan the race last year, but I lost today."

In plain English: To wan means to become pale and weak, usually because you are sick or tired.

"The moon began to wan after reaching its fullness last night."

Adjective
1

(of light) lacking in intensity or brightness; dim or feeble

"the pale light of a half moon"

"a pale sun"

"the late afternoon light coming through the el tracks fell in pale oblongs on the street"

"a pallid sky"

"the pale (or wan) stars"

"the wan light of dawn"

2

abnormally deficient in color as suggesting physical or emotional distress

"the pallid face of the invalid"

"her wan face suddenly flushed"

3

lacking vitality as from weariness or illness or unhappiness

"a wan smile"

wan
4

Pale, sickly-looking.

"His face looked pale and sickly after he spent all night studying without sleep."

Proper Noun
1

A surname​.

"The Wan family has lived in the village for three generations."

Example Sentences
"The moon was full and bright, not showing its usual wan shape during this lunar phase." noun
"The moon began to wan after reaching its fullness last night." verb
"The sun began to wan behind the thick clouds of rain." verb
"As winter approaches, daylight will soon start to wan earlier each evening." verb
"Don't let your hope wan when you face difficult challenges." verb
See Also
lurid wanned uninterested girl lew bland in wans
Related Terms
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
computer network sicken

Origin

Wan comes from Middle English and Old English words meaning "grey," "leaden," or "dusky." It traces back to a Proto-Germanic root related to darkness, though its ultimate origin remains uncertain.

Rhyming Words
ewan awan swan gwan kwan hwan iwan diwan dewan aswan tewan erwan lpwan cowan gowan iowan lowan powan rowan sawan
Compare
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