wither
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English [edit]
Pronunciation [edit]
Etymology 1 [edit]
From Middle English, from Old English wiþer (“again, against”, adverb in compounds), from Proto-Germanic *wiþra (“against, toward”), from Proto-Indo-European *wī-tero- (“further apart”), *wī- (“separate, alone”). Cognate with Low German wedder (“against”), Dutch weer (“again, back”), German wider (“against, contrary to”), wieder (“again”), Gothic 𐍅𐌹𐌸𐍂𐌰 (wiþra), Old Norse viðr. More at with.
Adverb [edit]
wither (comparative more wither, superlative most wither)
- (obsolete or chiefly in compounds) Against, in opposition to.
Etymology 2 [edit]
From Middle English witheren, from Old English wiþerian (“to resist, oppose, struggle against”), from Proto-Germanic *wiþrōnan (“to go against, resist”). Cognate with Middle Dutch wideren, Old High German widarōn.
Verb [edit]
wither (third-person singular simple present withers, present participle withering, simple past and past participle withered)
Etymology 3 [edit]
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”). Compare Dutch verwederen, verweren (“to erode by weather”), German verwittern (“to be ruined by weather; to erode”). More at weather.
Verb [edit]
wither (third-person singular simple present withers, present participle withering, simple past and past participle withered)
- (intransitive) To shrivel, droop or dry up, especially from lack of water.
- (intransitive) To become helpless due to emotion.
- (transitive) To cause to shrivel or dry up.
- (transitive) To make helpless due to emotion.
Usage notes [edit]
- Not to be confused with whither.
