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withering |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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.] 1. To fade; to lose freshness; to become sapless; to become sapless; to dry or shrivel up Shall he hot pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither? --Ezek. xvii. 9. 2. To lose or want animal moisture; to waste; to pin? away as animal bodies. This is man, old wrinkled, faded, withered. --Shak. There was a man which had his hand withered. --Matt. xii. 10. Now warm in love, now with'ring in the grave. --Dryden. 3. To lose vigor or power; to languish; to pass away ``Names that must not wither.'' --Byron. States thrive or wither as moons wax and wane. --Cowper. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Withering \With"er*ing\, a. Tending to wither; causing to shrink or fade. -- {With"er*ing*ly}, adv From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: withering adj 1: wreaking or capable of wreaking complete destruction; "possessing annihilative power"; "a devastating hurricane"; "the guns opened a withering fire" [syn: {annihilative}, {annihilating}, {devastating}] 2: making light of "afire with annihilating invective"; "a devastating portrait of human folly"; "to compliments inflated I've a withering reply"- W.S.Gilbert [syn: {annihilating}, {devastating}] n : any weakening or degeneration (especially through lack of use) [syn: {atrophy}]
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