phr. [ phonetic transcription of colloquial speech, from want to. ] Want to;
Phonetic transcriptions of rapid colloquial speech are sometimes used in place of the grammatically proper spelling in order to provide a flavor of the original spirit of a spoken dialogue. See also the related entries for gonna, gotta, and wannabe. [ PJC ]
n. [ phonetic transcription of colloquial speech, from want to be. ] A person who wants to be or become a different type of person -- what the person wants to be is usually clear from the context;
a. Made wan, or pale. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The quality or state of being wan; a sallow, dead, pale color; paleness; pallor;
a. Somewhat wan; of a pale hue. [ 1913 Webster ]
No sun, but a wannish glare,
In fold upon fold of hueless cloud. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]