wither

Meaning

Verb

1. (intransitive) To shrivel, droop or dry up, especially from lack of water.
2. (transitive) To cause to shrivel or dry up.
3. (figuratively, intransitive) To lose vigour or power; to languish; to pass away.
4. (intransitive) To become helpless due to emotion.
5. (transitive) To make helpless due to emotion.

Noun

singular of withers (“part of the back of a four-legged animal that is between the shoulder blades”)

Adv

Against, in opposition to.

withers

• Noun
• Verb

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Synonyms

fade

wilt

shrivel

droop

dry up

decay

dry out

languish

wizen

dry

decline

shrink

die

💀

flag

waste away

deteriorate

shrivel up

thin

become weak

wither away

lean

wrinkle

scorch

waste

atrophy

be half-dry-half-fresh

grow weak

weaken

pine

wane

fall

fade away

sear

rot

burn

weak

emaciate

dwindle

deflate

decompose

blight

drop

recession

putrefy

drained

become thin

perish

melt

dizzy

💫

macerate

Translations

welken

se faner

appassire

marchitarse

verwelken

se flétrir

avvizzire

faner

marchitar

welk werden

μαραίνω

flétrir

murchar

verblühen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈwɪðɚ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: widren

Inherited from Old English: wederian

Cognate with Dutch: verwederen

Cognate with Dutch: verweren

Cognate with German: verwittern

Inherited from Middle English: witheren

Inherited from Old English: wiþerian

Cognate with Middle Dutch: wideren

Cognate with Old High German: widarōn

In summary

From Middle English widren, wydderen (“to dry up, shrivel”), related to or perhaps an alteration of Middle English wederen (“to expose to weather”), from Old English wederian (“to expose to weather, exhibit a change of weather”).
Cognates
From Proto-Germanic: Dutch verwederen, Dutch verweren (“to erode by weather”), German verwittern, wittern (“to be ruined by weather; to erode”), Swedish vittra (“wither”).
More at weather.