Why Does The Term ‘so Pale And Wan’ Used As Such?

There is no dictionary that describes the meaning of the term 'so pale and wan' but it is one of the prime characteristics of any language is that it is evolving each passing day. The phenomenon applies with the English language also and probably we will find that the term is in use in near future.

The probable meaning that you can figure out from the term is to describe somebody who looks very weak and probably the person is asking about the reason for his or her weakness.

Pale is a word that says that somebody looks very weak and when you are using the term wan it just intensify the phenomenon. So the term certainly is used for somebody who looks very weak and the person wants to know the reason for it.

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The use of the tern pale and wan goes back centuries. The words are used to conjure up emotion and are very descriptive particularly in the physical sense.
Wan comes from the Middle English wann meaning dark and gloomy, to become pale it signifies unnaturally pale and is suggestive of melancholy, weariness and physical distress.
Pale is lacking in light
The poem by Sir John Suckling 1609- 1642 begins 'Why so pale and wan fond lover?'
Sir John committed suicide in Paris in 1642.
See also Greek Anthology, Book One, Chapter X part V Why so pale and wan Asclepiades?

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