Wan
/wɒn/noun
Pale, sickly, or lacking in color, brightness, or vitality.
Did you know?Old English *wan* could mean not only pale or gloomy, but also “evil” or “ill-omened,” showing how color and fate were once tightly linked.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wen-
“to desire, strive for; possibly a separate root from the later color word”
Old English
OE
wan
“dark, gloomy, pale, lacking color; also evil or ill-omened”
Middle English
ME
wan
“pale, pallid, wan-looking; gloomy or dismal”
Modern English
English
wan
“pale and unhealthy-looking, or dim and feeble in appearance”