wean
UK: wiːn | US: wiːn
vt. to gradually accustom (an infant or young mammal) to food other than its mother's milk
vt. to detach someone from a habit, dependency, or attachment
The word "wean" traces back to Old English wenian, which meant "to accustom" or "train." Its Proto-Germanic root wanjaną carried the sense of "to make accustomed," reflecting a broader idea of gradual adaptation. Over time, the meaning narrowed to specifically describe transitioning infants from breast milk to solid food, later extending metaphorically to breaking dependencies (e.g., "wean off caffeine"). The spelling and core meaning have remained remarkably stable since Old English.
The mother decided to wean her baby at six months.
It took months to wean the puppy onto dry food.
He struggled to wean himself off social media.
The clinic helps addicts wean off drugs safely.
She weaned her son gently, introducing new foods slowly.