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Synonyms for wind down


Grammar : Noun, verb
Spell : wahynd-doun
Phonetic Transcription : ˈwaɪndˌdaʊn

Top 10 synonyms for wind down Other synonyms for the word wind down


Définition of wind down

Origin :
  • "air in motion," Old English wind, from Proto-Germanic *wendas (cf. Old Saxon, Old Frisian, Middle Dutch, Dutch wind, Old Norse vindr, Old High German wind, German Wind, Gothic winds), from PIE *we-nt-o- "blowing," from root *we- "to blow" (cf. Sanskrit va-, Greek aemi-, Gothic waian, Old English wawan, Old High German wajan, German wehen, Old Church Slavonic vejati "to blow;" Sanskrit vatah, Avestan vata-, Hittite huwantis, Latin ventus, Old Church Slavonic vetru, Lithuanian vejas "wind;" Lithuanian vetra "tempest, storm;" Old Irish feth "air;" Welsh gwynt, Breton gwent "wind").
  • Normal pronunciation evolution made this word rhyme with kind and rind (Donne rhymes it with mind), but it shifted to a short vowel 18c., probably from influence of windy, where the short vowel is natural. A sad loss for poets, who now must rhyme it only with sinned and a handful of weak words. Symbolic of emptiness and vanity since late 13c.
  • I have forgot much, Cynara! gone with the wind. [Ernest Dowson, 1896]
  • Meaning "breath" is attested from late Old English; especially "breath in speaking" (early 14c.), so long-winded, also "easy or regular breathing" (early 14c.), hence second wind in the figurative sense (by 1830), an image from the sport of hunting.
  • Figurative phrase which way the wind blows for "the current state of affairs" is suggested from c.1400. To get wind of "receive information about" is by 1809, perhaps inspired by French avoir le vent de. To take the wind out of (one's) sails in the figurative sense (by 1883) is an image from sailing, where a ship without wind can make no progress. Wind-chill index is recorded from 1939. Wind energy from 1976. Wind vane from 1725.
  • As in truce : noun peaceful solution
  • As in kick back : verb relax
  • As in lessen : verb lower, reduce
  • As in reduce : verb make less; decrease
  • As in rest : verb be calm; sleep
  • As in slow : verb delay, restrict
  • As in taper/taper off : verb decrease to a point
  • As in terminate : verb stop, finish
  • As in unwind : verb relax
  • As in wane : verb diminish, lessen
  • As in : verb take a short break
  • As in taper : verb decrease
  • As in close : verb complete, finish, stop
Example sentences :
  • By the time we wind down into the valley of the Lot night has overtaken us.
  • Extract from : « The Roof of France » by Matilda Betham-Edwards
  • But a wind down the side streets cut like a knife, didn't it?
  • Extract from : « A Room With A View » by E. M. Forster
  • “We shall have the wind down upon us presently,” he observed to Hawke.
  • Extract from : « John Deane of Nottingham » by W.H.G. Kingston
  • Bring the ship on a wind—down with the helm—brace up the yards!
  • Extract from : « Salt Water » by W. H. G. Kingston
  • There was a prolonged dismal whistle of the wind down the chimney.
  • Extract from : « Dixie Martin » by Grace May North
  • The storm was over and the wind down, and there was a frost on the ground.
  • Extract from : « The Attache » by Thomas Chandler Haliburton
  • And therewith she turned about and fled like the wind down the stream.
  • Extract from : « The Wood Beyond the World » by William Morris
  • There came a whiff of wind down the street just as she came out.
  • Extract from : « The Motion Picture Chums at Seaside Park » by Victor Appleton
  • He would rather have been cutting the wind down the valley slope.
  • Extract from : « The Light of Western Stars » by Zane Grey
  • It was about midnight to judge by the moon—clear of snow and the wind down.
  • Extract from : « The Magnetic North » by Elizabeth Robins (C. E. Raimond)

Antonyms for wind down

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019