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   wither

   /ˈwɪðə/

   verb

   • 1. (of a plant) become dry and shrivelled: "the grass had withered to an unappealing brown" Similar wiltbecome limpdroopfadeshrivel (up)dry updieperishtechnical:become marcescentOpposite thriveflourish
   • ▪ (of a part of the body) become shrunken or wrinkled from age or disease: "the flesh had withered away" Similar waste (away)become shrunkenshrivel (up)atrophydecayOpposite strengthen
   • 2. fall into decay or decline: "it is not true that old myths either die or wither away" Similar diminishdwindleshrinklessenfadeebb (away)waneweakenlanguishevaporatemelt awaydisappearOpposite grow
   • ▪ cause to decline or deteriorate; weaken: "a business that can wither the hardiest ego"
   • ▪ (of the state in Marxist theory) cease to exist because no longer necessary after the dictatorship of the proletariat has implemented the necessary changes in society: "the state in socialist societies has failed to wither away"
   • 3. humiliate (someone) with a scornful look or manner: "she withered him with a glance"

   Word Origin late Middle English: apparently a variant of weather, ultimately differentiated for certain senses.

   Scrabble Points: 12

   • W

     4

   • I

     1

   • T

     1

   • H

     4

   • E

     1

   • R

     1

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