wither
verbnounadverbverbattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈwɪðə//
- United Kingdom/[ˈwɪðə]/
- United States//ˈwɪðɚ//
- United States/[ˈwɪðɚ] ~ [ˈwɪðɹ̩]/
To shrivel, droop or dry up, especially from lack of water.
verb
- 1
To shrivel, droop or dry up, especially from lack of water.
The flowers began to wither in the hot sun without enough water.
She watched as the old tree slowly withered with time.
Without care, the crops will wither and fail to grow.
- 2
To cause to shrivel or dry up.
There was a man which had his hand withered.
This is man, old, wrinkled, faded, withered.
now warm in love, now with'ring in the grave
- 3
figurativeTo lose vigour or power; to languish; to waste away; to pass away.
names that must not wither
States thrive or wither as moons wax and wane.
- 4
To become helpless due to emotion.
- 5
To make helpless due to emotion.
Etymology
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.
noun
- 1
Also a form of witherssingular of withers (“part of the back of a four-legged animal that is between the shoulder blades”)
Timozel had slid his feet quickly from the stirrups and swung his leg over the horse's wither as it slumped to the ground, standing himself in one graceful movement.
If a saddle tips too far forward it may rest on the horse's wither and cause pain. There should always be a gap of roughly 5 cm between the horse's wither and the pommel when you are sitting on the saddle.
Etymology
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
adverb
- 1
obsoleteAgainst, in opposition to.
Etymology
From Middle English wither, from Old English wiþer (“again, against”, adverb in compounds), from Proto-West Germanic *wiþr (“against, toward”). Cognates From Proto-Germanic: Low German wedder (“against”), Dutch weer (“again, back”), German wider (“against, contrary to”), German wieder (“again”), Gothic 𐍅𐌹𐌸𐍂𐌰 (wiþra), Old Norse viðr. More at with.
verb
- 1
To go against, resist; oppose.
Etymology
From Middle English witheren, from Old English wiþerian (“to resist, oppose, struggle against”). Cognates From Proto-Germanic: Middle Dutch wideren, Old High German widarōn.
Forms
- plural
- withers
- comparative
- more wither
- superlative
- most wither
- past tense
- withered
- past participle
- withered
- present participle
- withering
- third person singular
- withers
wither · To shrivel, droop or dry up, especially from lack of water.
Wither · A surname.withheld · That has been kept or held back from the possession or…withholding · The deduction of taxes from an employee's salary.