wenian

to accustom, habituate

1 / 1

A three-stage sequence shows the same litter of kittens gradually changing from nursing at their mother to eating soft food independently.

verb

wean

WEEN/wiːn/

To gradually accustom a young child or animal to food other than milk.

Etymology

weanOld Englishto accustom, habituate

Old English wenian meant “to accustom.” The nursing sense may come from accustoming a baby to a new diet, from related prefixed verbs meaning “unaccustom,” or both.

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Related word entries

wean