wither Meaning, Definition & Usage

With"er intransitive verb

Etymology

OE. wideren; probably the same word as wederen to weather (see Weather, v. & n.); or cf. G. verwittern to decay, to be weather-beaten, Lith. vysti to wither.

Wordforms

imperfect & past participle Withered ; present participle & verbal noun Withering

Definitions

1. To fade; to lose freshness; to become sapless; to become sapless; to dry or shrivel up.

   Shall he hot pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither? Ezek. xvii. 9.

2. To lose or want animal moisture; to waste; to pin away, as animal bodies.

   This is man, old, wrinkled, faded, withered. Shak.

   There was a man which had his hand withered. Matt. xii. 10.

   Now warm in love, now with'ring in the grave. Dryden.

3. To lose vigor or power; to languish; to pass away. "Names that must not wither." Byron.

   States thrive or wither as moons wax and wane. Cowper.

With"er transitive verb

Definitions

1. To cause to fade, and become dry.

   The sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth. James i. 11.

2. To cause to shrink, wrinkle, or decay, for want of animal moisture. "Age can not wither her." Shak.

   Shot forth pernicious fire Among the accursed, that withered all their strength. Milton.

3. To cause to languish, perish, or pass away; to blight; as, a reputation withered by calumny.

   The passions and the cares that wither life. Bryant.