wanion

English

Alternative forms

wannion, wenion

Etymology

Alteration of earlier waniand, from Middle English waniand (“waning”), present participle of wanien (“to wane”) (from the phrase "in the waniand [moon]", i.e. in the time of the waning moon, in an unlucky period).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈweɪni.ən/, /ˈweɪnjən/

Noun

wanion (plural wanions)

(obsolete) The wane of the moon.
(obsolete) Curse.
- 1617, John Davies, “It’s a mad world my Maisters. And a merry world my Mistrisses”, in Wits Bedlam‎^[1], London:
  S’foote what are these that pynch me? Goblins?
  A wanion on the Elues for me […]
(now archaic) Vengeance (in the phrases in a wanion, with a wanion, “with a vengeance”).
- 1583, Philip Stubbs, “A fearfull Iudgement of GOD, shewed at the Theaters”, in The Anatomie of Abuses‎^[2], London: Richard Jones:
  And yet notwithstanding we must haue these goodly pageants played vpon the sabaoth day (in a wanion) because there are no mo daies in the week.
- 1606, [Thomas Heywood], The Second Part of, If You Know Not Me, You Know No Bodie. […], London: […] [Thomas Purfoot] for Nathaniell Butter, →OCLC, signature D3, verso:
  By the maſſe I thinke your maſter had more need knock you about the eares, for playing the Iackes vvith him, ther’s your ten pounds, tell it out with a vvanion, and take it for your pains.
- c. 1607–1608, William Shakeſpeare, The Late, And much admired Play, Called Pericles, Prince of Tyre. […], London: Imprinted at London for Henry Goſſon, […], published 1609, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
  Look how thou stirrest now! come away, or I’ll fetch thee with a wanion.
- 1672, John Phillips, Maronides, or, Virgil travestie‎^[3], London: Nathanael Brooks, Book 5, p. 41:
  For ill advised of a rock,
  The ship with such a wannion strook;
- 1825 June 22, [Walter Scott], Tales of the Crusaders. […], volume I (The Betrothed), Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 173:
  “Now, hold thy tongue, with a wanion” said the monk; […]
- 2014, original 1975, Thomas Dekker, Jonathan Gil Harris, The Shoemaker's Holiday, page 21:
  I stood at our door in Cornhill, looked at him, he at me indeed; spake to him, but he not to me, not a word. Marry gup, thought I, with a wanion!

Anagrams

Winona