A frequentative of 'dwine' (to waste away) — the '-le' suffix means 'gradually and repeatedly.' Cognate with Dutch 'verdwijnen.'
To diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength.
A frequentative diminutive of 'dwine' (to waste away, to languish, to fade), from Old English 'dwīnan' (to waste away, to diminish, to pine), from Proto-Germanic '*dwīnaną' (to vanish, to waste away), from PIE *dʰew- (to pass away, to die, to become unconscious). The '-le' suffix indicates repeated or gradual action (compare 'sparkle' from 'spark,' 'crumble' from 'crumb'). Cognate with Dutch 'verdwijnen' (to disappear), Old Norse 'dvína' (to dwindle). Key roots
The word 'dwindle' contains a hidden suffix: the '-le' ending is a frequentative marker, meaning 'to do repeatedly or gradually.' The base word 'dwine' (to fade away) gained '-le' to become 'dwindle' — to fade away slowly and repeatedly. English has many such pairs: 'spark' → 'sparkle,' 'crumb' → 'crumble,' 'wrest' → 'wrestle,' 'sniff' → 'sniffle,' 'daze' → 'dazzle