Obs. Also pl. 4 wans, Sc. vanis, 5–6 Sc. waynys. See also WONE sb.2 [Early ME. wāne, also wōne (with open o), whence the synonymous WONE sb.2 The word belongs to the Teut. root *wan- : *wun-, which expresses the twofold notion ‘custom’ and ‘dwelling’; the precise source is uncertain.
The form *wan- of the root is otherwise known only in the sense ‘custom’ (ON. vane wk. masc., custom, OE. węnian WEAN v.:—*wanjan), while the weak grade *wun- has both senses (OE. ʓewuna wk. masc., custom, WONE sb.1; ON. una, OE. wunian to dwell, WONE v.). There may have been an OE. *wana (or -e) with the sense ‘dwelling,’ or the word may be a. ON. vane in an unrecorded sense, or with change of sense due to the influence of WONE v., which meant both ‘to be accustomed’ (cf. WONT) and ‘to dwell.’
After the 14th c. the form wane is exclusively Sc. and northern; WONE sb.2, which in the north was rare, was common in midland and southern use, and survived as a poetic archaism until the 17th c.]
A dwelling-place, residence, house (freq. of religious communities, etc.). Often pl. with reference to one building, or group of buildings.
a. 1225. St. Marher., 21. Ant ne schal nan unwiht wunien iþe wanes þer þi martirdom is iwriten inne.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 8667. In wanes war we stad vn-wide, And laid vr barns be vr side.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 14554. Þe Saxons ledde þe Aufrykans, & destruyed þe Cristen wans [v.r. wanes].
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, vi. (Thomas), 277. & schawyt me þe welful stede quhare he þe fare palace has mad…. & set oure all is þat vanis with brycht & schenand preciuse stanys.
a. 1400. Sir Perc., 1347. The mene that were with-in the wane, The comone belle gunne knylle.
c. 1400. Contin. Brut, ccxxxii. (MS. C.C.C.), 317. Þe Danes … turned homwardes aȝen levyng behind hem in her ynnes, pryvyly ywriten, in scrowes and on walles, ‘Ȝet shull Danos [Caxton danes wast] þes Wanes.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 2028. A bischope, ane abbot, all vndir ane, Monkes wonand in a wane.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 7. All thay went with the King to his worthy wane.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VII. 337. Then he gert cry about thai waynys wide, Na Scottis born amang thaim thur suld bid.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, X. iii. 94. Ida forest, to fugytyve Troianis Thayr best belouit wod and natyve wanys.
a. 1568. Bannatyne MS. (Hunter. Club), 662. Bot sone within a wane scho went, Most hevinly to behold.
[1820. Marmaiden of Clyde, xvii. in Edin. Mag., VI. 423. A dowie sheen frae his austrous een Gae licht to the dismal wane.]
b. In the obscure alliterative phrase worthy (worshipful, wise) in wane. Cf. WONE sb.2
The sense may have originally been ‘in the dwellings of men, among men.’ Cf. similar uses of TOWN.
a. 1400. Sir Degrev., 433. Thane spekes that wis in-with wane, ‘Ye have well good mene y-slayne.’
c. 1400. Anturs of Arth., xiii. ‘Welecome, Waynour!’ scho says, ‘þou worthye in wane!’
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 2514. Slyke monkes haue I knawen and sene, Þat … had mare grace of prophecy Þan euer hider to had I; Amang þe whilk boysil was ane, Þe maste wirschipful man in wane.
a. 1650. Eger & Grine, 729, in Percy Fol. MS., I. 377. It is a lord most worthyest in waine, Erle Gares is his name.
