v.
1. tr. & intr. (often foll. by up) make or become dry and shrivelled (withered flowers).
2 tr. & intr. (often foll. by away) deprive of or lose vigour, vitality, freshness, or importance.
3 intr. decay, decline.
4 tr. a blight with scorn etc. b (as withering adj.) scornful (a withering look).
Derivatives:
witheringly adv.
Etymology: ME, app. var. of WEATHER differentiated for certain senses