wither
[ with-er ]
/ ˈwɪð ər /
verb (used without object)
to shrivel; fade; decay: The grapes had withered on the vine.
to lose the freshness of youth, as from age (often followed by away).
verb (used with object)
to make flaccid, shrunken, or dry, as from loss of moisture; cause to lose freshness, bloom, vigor, etc.: The drought withered the buds.
to affect harmfully: Reputations were withered by the scandal.
to abash, as by a scathing glance: a look that withered him.
Origin of wither
1250–1300; Middle English, perhaps variant of
weather (v.)
SYNONYMS FOR wither
1
wrinkle,
shrink,
dry,
decline,
languish,
droop,
waste.
Wither,
shrivel imply a shrinking, wilting, and wrinkling.
Wither (of plants and flowers) is to dry up, shrink, wilt, fade, whether as a natural process or as the result of exposure to excessive heat or drought:
Plants withered in the hot sun.
Shrivel, used of thin, flat objects and substances, such as leaves, the skin, etc., means to curl, roll up, become wrinkled:
The leaves shrivel in cold weather. Paper shrivels in fire.
5 humiliate, shame.
OTHER WORDS FROM wither
Words nearby wither
withdrawing room,
withdrawn,
withdrew,
withe,
withe rod,
wither,
wither on the vine,
witherite,
withers,
withershins,
witherspoon
Example sentences from the Web for withering
British Dictionary definitions for withering
wither
/ (ˈwɪðə) /
verb
(intr)
(esp of a plant) to droop, wilt, or shrivel up
(intr often foll by away)
to fade or waste
all hope withered away
(intr)
to decay, decline, or disintegrate
(tr)
to cause to wilt, fade, or lose vitality
(tr)
to abash, esp with a scornful look
(tr)
to harm or damage
Derived forms of wither
withered, adjective witherer, noun withering, adjective witheringly, adverbWord Origin for wither
C14: perhaps variant of
weather (vb); related to German
verwittern to decay