faner

Senses

1. 1.

   to dry hay (cut grass)

   to spread and turn grass to dry it for storage as fodder

2. 2.

   to wilt; to wither

   to lose freshness or vigor; to fade

Examples

• "Les fermiers fanent le foin dans les prés."

  The farmers dry the hay in the meadows.

• "Les fleurs faneront si on ne les met pas dans l'eau."

  The flowers will wilt if we don't put them in water.

• "Après une semaine sans arroser, les plantes ont fané."

  After a week without watering, the plants withered.

Usage

**Faner** is a regular -er verb commonly used in agricultural contexts (hay-making) and also metaphorically for flowers, plants, or even people losing vitality. The past participle **fané(e)** is very common as an adjective meaning "wilted" or "faded." Not to be confused with **flairer** (to smell) or **flanquer** (to throw).