wither

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To shrivel, droop or dry up, especially from lack of water.

   The flowers began to wither in the hot sun without enough water.

2. 2
   verb

   To cause to shrivel or dry up.

   There was a man which had his hand withered.

3. 3
   verb

   To lose vigour or power; to languish; to waste away; to pass away.

   names that must not wither

4. 4
   noun

   singular of withers (“part of the back of a four-legged animal that is between the shoulder blades”)

   Timozel had slid his feet quickly from the stirrups and swung his leg over the horse's wither as it slumped to the ground, standing himself in one graceful movement.

5. 5
   verb

   wither, as with a loss of moisture

6. 6
   verb

   lose freshness, vigor, or vitality

7. 7
   verb

   To become helpless due to emotion.

8. 8
   verb

   To make helpless due to emotion.

Etymology

From Middle English widren, wydderen (“to dry up, shrivel”), related to or perhaps an alteration of Middle English wederen (“to expose to weather”), from Old English wederian (“to expose to weather, exhibit a change of weather”). Cognates From Proto-Germanic: Dutch verwederen, Dutch verweren (“to erode by weather”), German verwittern, wittern (“to be ruined by weather; to erode”), Swedish vittra (“wither”). More at weather.