Wither word meaning and definition

[verb] wither, esp. with a loss of moisture; "The fruit dried and shriveled"
[verb] lose freshness, vigor, or vitality; "Her bloom was fading"

\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. ``Names that must not wither.'' --Byron. States thrive or wither as moons wax and wane. --Cowper.
\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. ``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.

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