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&unr_; 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 ] |