/ wɒn; NAmE wɑːn/ adjective
looking pale and weak :
his grey, wan face
She gave me a wan smile (= showing no energy or enthusiasm) .
► wanly adverb :
He smiled wanly.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English wann dark, black , of unknown origin.
/ wɒn; NAmE wɑːn/ adjective
looking pale and weak :
his grey, wan face
She gave me a wan smile (= showing no energy or enthusiasm) .
► wanly adverb :
He smiled wanly.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English wann dark, black , of unknown origin.
Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary. Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне. 2005