Wither

With"er (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Withered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Withering.] [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.]

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.

Byron.

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

© Webster 1913.

With"er, v. t.

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.

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.

© Webster 1913.