Emily Dickinson Lexicon

WAN, a. [Sax. wan, wann, deficient; wanion, to fail, to wane; wan, pale, that is, deficient in color; allied probably to vain. Qu. W. gwan, weak, and gwyn, white. The primary sense is to withdraw or depart.]

Pale; having a sickly hue; languid of look. Sad to view, his visage pale and wan. – Spenser. Why so pale and wan, fond lover? – Suckling.