wilt

Meanings

Verb

• To droop or become limp and flaccid (as a dying leaf or flower).
• To fatigue; to lose strength.
• To cause to droop or become limp and flaccid (as a flower).
• To cause to fatigue; to exhaust.

Noun

• The act of wilting or the state of being wilted.
• Any of various plant diseases characterized by wilting.

Origin

• Recorded since 1691, probably an alteration of welk, itself from Middle English welken, presumed from Middle Dutch (preserved in modern inchoative verwelken) or Middle Low German welken, cognate with Old High German irwelhen.