Dwindle \Dwin"dle\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dwindled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dwindling.]

[From OE. dwinen to languish, waste away, AS. dw[=i]nan; akin to LG. dwinen, D. dwijnen to vanish, Icel. dv[=i]na to cease, dwindle, Sw. tvina; of uncertain origin. The suffix -le, preceded by d excrescent after n, is added to the root with a diminutive force.]

To diminish; to become less; to shrink; to waste or consume away; to become degenerate; to fall away.

Weary sennights nine times nine Shall he dwindle, peak and pine. --Shak.

Religious societies, though begun with excellent intentions, are said to have dwindled into factious clubs. --Swift.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)