WITHER


Meaning of WITHER in English

I. ˈwi-thər verb

( with·ered ; with·er·ing ˈwith-riŋ, ˈwi-thə-)

Etymology: Middle English widren; probably akin to Middle English weder weather

Date: 14th century

intransitive verb

1. : to become dry and sapless ; especially : to shrivel from or as if from loss of bodily moisture

2. : to lose vitality, force, or freshness

public support for the bill is wither ing

transitive verb

1. : to cause to wither

2. : to make speechless or incapable of action : stun

wither ed him with a look — Dorothy Sayers

II. noun

Date: 1607

chiefly British : withers

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.