wither

Meanings

Verb

• To shrivel, droop or dry up, especially from lack of water.
• To cause to shrivel or dry up.
• To lose vigour or power; to languish; to pass away.
• To become helpless due to emotion.
• To make helpless due to emotion.
• To go against, resist; oppose.

Adverb

• Against, in opposition to.

Origin

• From Middle English widren, wydderen, 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").
• From Proto-Germanic: Dutch verwederen, Dutch verweren ("to erode by weather"), German verwittern ("to be ruined by weather; to erode")
• More at weather.
• From Middle English wither, from Old English wiþer, from Proto-West Germanic *wiþr.
• From Proto-Germanic: Low German wedder ("against"), Dutch weer ("again, back"), German wider ("against, contrary to"), German wieder ("again"), Gothic 𐍅𐌹𐌸𐍂𐌰, Old Norse viðr.
• More at with.
• From Middle English witheren, from Old English wiþerian.
• From Proto-Germanic: Middle Dutch wideren, Old High German widarōn.