Gradually becoming smaller or fewer in number; diminishing steadily over time.
From Middle English dwinen meaning 'to waste away,' possibly from Old English dwinan meaning 'to fade' or 'languish.' The frequentative form 'dwindle' emerged in the 16th century, with the '-ling' participial form following standard patterns.
There's something particularly melancholic about dwindling - it suggests not sudden loss but slow, inevitable decline, like watching autumn leaves gradually disappear from a tree. The word perfectly captures processes that happen so slowly we barely notice until they're nearly gone - from wildlife populations to old traditions.
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