wan

 
Pronunciation: /wɒn/

adjective

  • (of a person’s complexion or appearance) pale and giving the impression of illness or exhaustion: she was looking wan and bleary-eyed
  • (of light) pale; weak: the wan dawn light
  • (of a smile) lacking enthusiasm or energy: he gave a wan smile
  • literary (of the sea) without lustre; dark and gloomy.

Derivatives

wanly

adverb

wanness

Pronunciation: /ˈwɒnnɪs/
noun

Origin:

Old English wann 'dark, black', of unknown origin