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wither
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Wither \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.] [1913 Webster] 1. To fade; to lose freshness; to become sapless; to become sapless; to dry or shrivel up. [1913 Webster] Shall he hot pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither? --Ezek. xvii. 9. [1913 Webster] 2. To lose or want animal moisture; to waste; to pin? away, as animal bodies. [1913 Webster] This is man, old, wrinkled, faded, withered. --Shak. [1913 Webster] There was a man which had his hand withered. --Matt. xii. 10. [1913 Webster] Now warm in love, now with'ring in the grave. --Dryden. [1913 Webster] 3. To lose vigor or power; to languish; to pass away. "Names that must not wither." --Byron. [1913 Webster] States thrive or wither as moons wax and wane. --Cowper. [1913 Webster] .
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Wither \With"er\, v. t.
1. To cause to fade, and become dry.
[1913 Webster]
The sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but
it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof
falleth. --James i. 11.
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2. To cause to shrink, wrinkle, or decay, for want of animal
moisture. "Age can not wither her." --Shak.
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Shot forth pernicious fire
Among the accursed, that withered all their
strength. --Milton.
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3. To cause to languish, perish, or pass away; to blight; as,
a reputation withered by calumny.
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The passions and the cares that wither life.
--Bryant.
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