wannish

[ won-ish ]

adjective

1. somewhat wan.

Word History and Origins

Origin of wannish¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; wan ¹, -ish ¹

Example Sentences

Wanness should be taken as meaning simply less bright than absolute whiteness, as Keats speaks of “wannish fire,” etc.

From Project Gutenberg

Upon her crest she wore a wannish fire Sprinkled with stars, like Ariadne's tiar: Her head was serpent, but ah, bitter-sweet!

From Project Gutenberg

The moon turns the smoke into wannish clouds of white and yellow, which slowly rise, break, and disappear.

From Project Gutenberg

In the shop a single gas-light was burning its last, and this, with that near the pier, were the only two that I saw: and ghastly enough they looked, transparently wannish, and as it were ashamed, like blinking night-things overtaken by the glare of day.

From Project Gutenberg

V Befriend me night best Patroness of grief, Over the Pole thy thickest mantle throw, 30 And work my flatterd fancy to belief, That Heav'n and Earth are colour'd with my wo; My sorrows are too dark for day to know: The leaves should all be black wheron I write, And letters where my tears have washt a wannish white.

From Project Gutenberg