wilt 1
/wilt/ , v.i.
1. to become limp and drooping, as a fading flower; wither.
2. to lose strength, vigor, assurance, etc.: to wilt after a day's hard work.
v.t.
3. to cause to wilt.
n.
4. the act of wilting, or the state of being wilted: a sudden wilt of interest in the discussion.
5. Plant Pathol.
a. the drying out, drooping, and withering of the leaves of a plant due to inadequate water supply, excessive transpiration, or vascular disease.
b. a disease so characterized, as fusarium wilt.
6. a virus disease of various caterpillars, characterized by the liquefaction of body tissues.
Also, wilt disease (for defs. 5b, 6).
[ 1685-95; dial. var. of wilk to wither, itself var. of welk, ME welken, prob. welken; cf. G welk withered ]
Syn. 2. wane, droop; ebb, weaken.
wilt 2
/wilt/ , v. Archaic.
second pers. sing. pres. ind. of will 1 .