Wean

v. t. [imp. & p. p. WEANED; p. pr. & vb. n. WEANING.] [A-S. wenian, wenman, to accustom, wean, awenian, awennan, to wean, Icel. venja, to accustom, venja barn af briosti, to wean a child, Sw. vänja, to accustom, vänja af ett barn, to wean a child, Dan. vänne, to accustom, vänne fra, to wean from, Ger. gewöhnen, to accustom, entwöhnen, to wean from, D. wennen, gewennen, to accustom, afwennen, to disaccustom, to wean.] 1. To accustom and reconcile, as a child or other young animal, to a want or deprivation of the breast; to take from the breast or udder; to make no longer dependent on the mother for 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, as the affections, from any object of desire; to reconcile to the want or loss of any thing. “Wean them from themselves.” Shak. The troubles of age were intended . . . to wean us gradually from our fondness of life the nearer we approach to the end of it. Swift.