Old English wann "dark, dusky, lacking luster," later "leaden, pale, gray," of uncertain origin, and not found in other Germanic languages. The connecting notion is colorlessness. Perhaps related to wane. Related: Wanly; wanness.
the wan light of dawn
the pale (or wan) stars
her wan face suddenly flushed
a wan smile
Walpurgis night
walrus
Walter
waltz
wampum
wan
wand
wander
wanderlust
wane
wang
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