Historical clue formulations

• Gradually tapered cuts — 2026-09-09
• Some short cuts — 2023-05-12
• Weakens — 2009-01-08
• Vanishes — 2006-01-18
• Falls behind in the end — 2002-06-06
• Evanesces — 2001-07-08
• Becomes a whiter shade of pale — 1999-02-14
• Drops out of contention — 1997-05-17
• Loses brightness — 1995-08-21