/dwin"dl/ , v. , dwindled, dwindling .
v.i.
1. to become smaller and smaller; shrink; waste away: His vast fortune has dwindled away.
2. to fall away, as in quality; degenerate.
v.t.
3. to make smaller and smaller; cause to shrink: Failing health dwindles ambition.
[ 1590-1600; dwine (now dial.) to waste away (ME; OE dwinan; c. MD dwinen to languish, ON dvina to pine away) + -LE ]
Syn. 1. diminish, decline, lessen, wane. See decrease. 3. lessen.
Ant. 1. increase. 3. magnify.