a wan smile

  • 1wan — wan1 [wän] adj. wanner, wannest [ME < OE wann, dark] 1. sickly pale; pallid [a wan complexion] 2. faint or weak in a way suggestive of sickness or great weariness, sadness, etc. [a wan smile] 3. pale, dim, faint, etc. [a wan light] …

    English World dictionary

  • 2wan — [wɔn US wa:n] adj literary [: Old English; Origin: dark ] looking pale, weak, or tired ▪ She gave a wan smile. >wanly adv …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 3wan´ness — wan1 «won», adjective, wan|ner, wan|nest, verb, wanned, wan|ning. –adj. 1. lacking natural or normal color; pale: » …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 4wan´ly — wan1 «won», adjective, wan|ner, wan|nest, verb, wanned, wan|ning. –adj. 1. lacking natural or normal color; pale: » …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 5wan — I [[t]wɒn[/t]] adj. wan•ner, wan•nest, 1) of an unnatural or sickly pallor; pallid 2) showing or suggesting ill health, fatigue, etc.: a wan smile[/ex] 3) lacking in forcefulness or effectiveness: wan attempts to organize the alumni[/ex] 4) to… …

    From formal English to slang

  • 6wan — /wɒn / (say won) adjective (wanner, wannest) 1. of an unnatural or sickly pallor; pallid: his wan face flushed. 2. pale in colour or hue: *The yellowed letters and locks of wan hair infused the farmer s wife with a delectable melancholy. –patrick …

  • 7wan — wan1 wanly, adv. wanness, n. /won/, adj., wanner, wannest, v., wanned, wanning. adj. 1. of an unnatural or sickly pallor; pallid; lacking color: His wan face suddenly flushed. 2. showing or suggesting ill health, fatigue, unhappiness, etc.: a wan …

    Universalium

  • 8wan — [[t]wɒ̱n[/t]] ADJ GRADED If you describe someone as wan, you mean that they look pale and tired. [LITERARY] He looked wan and tired... All she could manage was a thin, wan smile. Syn: washed out Derived words: wanly ADV GRADED usu ADV after v… …

    English dictionary

  • 9wan — I. adjective (wanner; wannest) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English wann dark, livid Date: 14th century 1. a. suggestive of poor health ; sickly, pallid b. lacking vitality ; feeble 2 …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 10wan — adjective especially literary looking pale, weak, or tired: She gave a wan smile. wanly adverb …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English