Antonyms for wind down

Grammar : Noun, verb

Spell : wahynd-doun

Phonetic Transcription : ˈwaɪndˌdaʊn

Definition of wind down

Origin : "air in motion," Old English wind, from Proto-Germanic *wendas (cf. Old Saxon, Old Frisian, Middle Dutch, Dutch wind, Old Norse vindr, Old High German wind, German Wind, Gothic winds), from PIE *we-nt-o- "blowing," from root *we- "to blow" (cf. Sanskrit va-, Greek aemi-, Gothic waian, Old English wawan, Old High German wajan, German wehen, Old Church Slavonic vejati "to blow;" Sanskrit vatah, Avestan vata-, Hittite huwantis, Latin ventus, Old Church Slavonic vetru, Lithuanian vejas "wind;" Lithuanian vetra "tempest, storm;" Old Irish feth "air;" Welsh gwynt, Breton gwent "wind").
Normal pronunciation evolution made this word rhyme with kind and rind (Donne rhymes it with mind), but it shifted to a short vowel 18c., probably from influence of windy, where the short vowel is natural. A sad loss for poets, who now must rhyme it only with sinned and a handful of weak words. Symbolic of emptiness and vanity since late 13c.
I have forgot much, Cynara! gone with the wind. [Ernest Dowson, 1896]
Meaning "breath" is attested from late Old English; especially "breath in speaking" (early 14c.), so long-winded, also "easy or regular breathing" (early 14c.), hence second wind in the figurative sense (by 1830), an image from the sport of hunting.
Figurative phrase which way the wind blows for "the current state of affairs" is suggested from c.1400. To get wind of "receive information about" is by 1809, perhaps inspired by French avoir le vent de. To take the wind out of (one's) sails in the figurative sense (by 1883) is an image from sailing, where a ship without wind can make no progress. Wind-chill index is recorded from 1939. Wind energy from 1976. Wind vane from 1725.

As in truce : noun peaceful solution
As in kick back : verb relax
As in lessen : verb lower, reduce
As in reduce : verb make less; decrease
As in rest : verb be calm; sleep
As in slow : verb delay, restrict
As in taper/taper off : verb decrease to a point
As in terminate : verb stop, finish
As in unwind : verb relax
As in wane : verb diminish, lessen
As in : verb take a short break
As in taper : verb decrease
As in close : verb complete, finish, stop

Example sentences :

By the time we wind down into the valley of the Lot night has overtaken us.
Extract from : « The Roof of France » by Matilda Betham-Edwards

But a wind down the side streets cut like a knife, didn't it?
Extract from : « A Room With A View » by E. M. Forster

“We shall have the wind down upon us presently,” he observed to Hawke.
Extract from : « John Deane of Nottingham » by W.H.G. Kingston

Bring the ship on a wind—down with the helm—brace up the yards!
Extract from : « Salt Water » by W. H. G. Kingston

There was a prolonged dismal whistle of the wind down the chimney.
Extract from : « Dixie Martin » by Grace May North

The storm was over and the wind down, and there was a frost on the ground.
Extract from : « The Attache » by Thomas Chandler Haliburton

And therewith she turned about and fled like the wind down the stream.
Extract from : « The Wood Beyond the World » by William Morris

There came a whiff of wind down the street just as she came out.
Extract from : « The Motion Picture Chums at Seaside Park » by Victor Appleton

He would rather have been cutting the wind down the valley slope.
Extract from : « The Light of Western Stars » by Zane Grey

It was about midnight to judge by the moon—clear of snow and the wind down.
Extract from : « The Magnetic North » by Elizabeth Robins (C. E. Raimond)

Synonyms for wind down

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019