Wean (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Weaned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Weaning.] [OE. wenen, AS. wenian, wennan, to accustom; akin to D. wennen, G. gewohnen, OHG. giwennan, Icel. venja, Sw. vanja, Dan. vaenne, Icel. vanr accustomed, wont; cf. AS. awenian to wean, G. entwohnen. See Wont, a.]

1.

To accustom and reconcile, as a child or other young animal, to a want or deprivation of mother's milk; to take from the breast or udder; to cause to cease to depend on the mother nourishment.

And the child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. Gen. xxi. 8.

2.

Hence, to detach or alienate the affections of, from any object of desire; to reconcile to the want or loss of anything.

"Wean them from themselves."

Shak.

The troubles of age were intended . . . to wean us gradually from our fondness of life. Swift.

 

© Webster 1913.


Wean, n.

A weanling; a young child.

I, being but a yearling wean. Mrs. Browning.

 

© Webster 1913.

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