† withern.1
Obsolete.
Opposition, hostility; adversity. on wiðere, adversely.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > disadvantageously [phrase]
on wiðereOE
for (also to, into) the worse1548
the mind > emotion > hatred > hostility > [noun]
unthankc893
witherwardnessc897
witherOE
wrakea1023
ungrithlOE
feythhed1297
grill13..
ill1303
unfriendshipa1340
enmity?a1400
feuda1400
despitec1400
unkindnessc1400
ingratitude1477
barrace1488
disfriendship1493
hostility1531
dislovea1533
adversation1543
diskindness1596
disaffection1599
ill blood1624
disaffectedness1625
inimicalness1651
unfriendlinessa1684
animus1795
inimicality1797
virus1866
negativism1977
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > [noun] > opposition or resistance
witherOE
wiþerstrencþc1175
withstanding1303
resistancea1325
gainstandinga1340
withsetting1340
resistencec1390
again-standingc1400
resisting1436
repugnance?a1439
gainstandc1470
disstandingc1485
against-standinga1500
repugnancya1500
resist1535
objection1543
reluctation1593
resistment1605
rebeck1609
reluctance1609
reluctancy1613
obluctation1615
redaction1621
resistencya1623
obstrigillation1623
resistal1631
resistancy1656
recalcitration1658
stemc1700
calcitration1867
push-back1984
OE Beowulf 2953 Wiðres ne truwode, þæt he sæmannum onsacan mihte.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 2335 Þat ich wes i wide sæ wiðer com to-ȝenes.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1441 Þe wind him com on wiðere.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 711 Þe heo wolden mid wiðere þan kinge wið-stonden.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online September 2020).
withern.2
/ˈwɪðə/, U.S. /ˈwɪðər/ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > animal disease or disorder > disorders of cattle > [noun] > other disorders of cattle
murrainc1450
gall1577
gargyse1577
sprenges1577
wisp1577
closh1587
milting1587
moltlong1587
hammer1600
mallet1600
scurvy1604
wither1648
speed1704
nostril dropping1708
bladdera1722
heartsick1725
throstling1726
striking1776
feather-cling1799
hollow-horn1805
weed1811
blood striking1815
the slows1822
toad-bit1825
coast-fever1840
horn-distemper1843
rat's tail1847
whethering1847
milk fever1860
milt-sickness1867
pearl tumour1872
actinomycosis1877
pearl disease1877
rat-tail1880
lumpy jaw1891
niatism1895
cripple1897
rumenitis1897
Rhodesian fever1903
reticulitis1905
barbone1907
contagious abortion1910
trichomoniasis1915
shipping fever1932
New Forest disease1954
bovine spongiform encephalopathy1987
BSE1987
mad cow disease1988
East Coast fever2009
1648 W. Poole Countrey Farrier ii. xxvii. 23 A Cow that hath the wither.
a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 294 The wether that comes forth either before or after calving.
Cf. 1750 W. Ellis Country Housewife's Family Compan. 359 That fatal Malady that some call Withering, that is to say, her Bearing comes out behind.]
2. Tea Manufacturing. The process of withering (see wither v.2 4c).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > tea manufacture > [noun] > process of drying
firing1888
wither1897
1897 D. Crole Tea vii. 114 Should..the weather not be propitious for a natural wither, none of this leaf would be ready for rolling.
1903 C. Bald Indian Tea (1917) xv. 225 Leaf is ready for rolling when it has become absolutely soft and flaccid, without being in any sense dried up [margin. Good wither].
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
witheradj.adv.
/ˈwɪðə/, U.S. /ˈwɪðər/ Obsolete or dialect.† B. adv.
A. adj.
1. Hostile, adverse; fierce.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > hatred > hostility > [adjective]
witherwardc888
unholdc900
fremda1000
foeOE
hatelyOE
onwardOE
fiendlyc1050
witherc1175
unbaina1300
quedec1300
wrong1340
aliena1382
enemiablea1382
enemyfula1382
enemyc1384
ingrate1393
unfriendly1425
undisposed1456
oppugnanta1513
infest1513
enemious?1529
cold1557
enemylike1561
enemyly1573
ingratefulc1575
opposed1584
misliking1586
infestuous1593
infensive1596
infestious1597
affrontous1598
foe-hearted1598
ill-affecteda1599
inimicous1598
friendless?1611
haggardly1635
infensea1641
inimicitious1641
inimicitial1656
inimical1678
inamicable1683
indisposed1702
uneasy1725
hostile1791
adversarial1839
chilly1841
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > fierceness > [adjective]
grimlyc893
wrothc893
reighOE
grima1000
grillc1175
witherc1175
grimfula1240
sturdy1297
wild1297
fiercea1300
man-keenc1300
stoutc1300
cruelc1330
fell?c1335
wicked1375
felonousc1386
felona1400
cursedc1400
runishc1400
keen?c1425
roid?c1425
wolvishc1430
ranishc1450
malicious1485
mankind1519
mannish1530
lionish1549
truculent?c1550
lion-like1556
tigerish?1573
tiger-like1587
truculental1593
Amazonian1595
tigerous1597
feral1604
fierceful1607
efferous1614
lionly1631
tigerly1633
feroce1641
ferocious1646
asperous1650
ferousa1652
blusterous1663
wolfish1674
boarisha1718
savage-fierce1770
Tartar1809
Tartarly1821
wolfy1828
savagerous1832
hawkish1841
tigery1859
attern1868
Hunnish1915
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > [adjective] > compensating
witherc1175
recompensable1454
compensatory1601
remunerating1608
compensant1624
compensative1633
upmakinga1699
compensating1710
compensational1824
redeeming1827
indemnificatory1875
c1000 Gloss. in Germania (N.S.) XI. 394/366 Infensus, wiþer.]
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 11389 Ga wiþerr gast o bacch fra me.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 4632 Þer he isæh Wiðe [read Wiðer; c1300 Otho Wiþer] king þe wiðer wes an compe.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 275 Sicambri were afterward i-cleped Franci, as it were feranci, þat is wither and sterne.
1775 ‘T. Bobbin’ Misc. Wks. 48 O lusty wither Tyke.
Cf. 1847 J. O. Halliwell Dict. Archaic & Provinc. Words Wither..a strong fellow. Yorksh... Withering, (1) strong; lusty. Chesh.]
2. Contrary, opposite; wrong (side).
ΚΠ
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 5973 Þa aras heom a wind a þere wiðer side.
a1400–50 Wars Alex. 3355 Þat he wirke noȝt on þe wethire halfe.
c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 230 On wyþer half water com doun þe schore.
Hostilely; perversely; fiercely. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > [adverb]
witherc1200
contrariouslyc1380
overthwartlya1425
adversarilyc1475
incontrary1488
incontrair?a1500
contrairly1535
thwartly1558
adversatively1571
sinisterlya1600
kim-kam1603
antagonistically1610
cross1614
oppositively1622
thwarta1628
counter1643
reverse1649
counter-bias1656
contrariwise1682
contrarily1781
antipathetically1818
opposingly1842
hostilely1876
the mind > emotion > hatred > hostility > [adverb]
unfriendlyOE
witherc1200
enemylike1382
enemylyc1384
unsaughtly?a1400
unfriendfully1513
enemiously1529
enemyfully1530
coldly1550
inimicously1598
hostilely1609
inimicitiously1662
inimically1836
unfriendlily1864
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > fierceness > [adverb]
grimc893
grimly971
bremeOE
reighlyOE
witherc1200
felonly1303
asperlyc1314
fellc1330
fellyc1330
fiercelya1375
sturdilyc1374
wickedlya1375
sternly1398
runishlyc1400
witherlyc1400
felonmentc1470
cruelly1487
blusterously1548
boarishlya1563
tiger-like1576
sternfully1582
mankindly1606
wolvishly1628
truculently1654
tigerously1698
tigerishly1878
the mind > will > decision > obstinacy or stubbornness > [adverb] > perversely
witherc1200
contrariouslyc1380
waywardly1395
frowardlya1400
overthwartlya1425
wrawlyc1440
protervely1447
perverselya1513
thrawnlya1522
perversedlya1525
thrawartly1533
thwartly1558
backwardlya1586
unreclaimablya1616
peevishlya1680
untowardly1682
bloody-mindedly1716
wrong-headedly1737
thrawart-like1768
cross-grained1825
pigheadedly1836
cussedly1868
contrariwise1873
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 121 Men bien swo wiðerfulle, þat swo he ȝerenluker clepeð hem to him, swo hie wiðere turneð froward him.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3386 Amalech folc fagt hard and wiðer.
Derivatives
Obsolete or dialect.
ˈwitherly adj. and adv. Obsolete or dialect (a) adj. contrary, perverse; (b) adv. fiercely, violently.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > [adverb]
strongeOE
hotOE
unsoftOE
snellya1000
stitha1000
stronglyOE
woodlyc1000
hatelyOE
unridelyc1175
wood1297
mainlyc1300
dreec1330
spackly?c1335
brothelyc1340
bremelya1375
fiercelya1375
violentlya1387
throlyc1390
roughlya1400
snarplya1400
unrekenlya1400
dreichlyc1400
ranklyc1400
witherlyc1400
maliciouslya1450
fervently1480
roidlyc1480
thrafully1535
vehement?1541
toughly1589
sickerly1596
vengeously1599
virulently1599
rageously1600
ragefullya1631
churlishly1657
improbously1657
rampantly1698
fierce1771
savagerous1832
fulgurantly1873
franticly1883
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > fierceness > [adverb]
grimc893
grimly971
bremeOE
reighlyOE
witherc1200
felonly1303
asperlyc1314
fellc1330
fellyc1330
fiercelya1375
sturdilyc1374
wickedlya1375
sternly1398
runishlyc1400
witherlyc1400
felonmentc1470
cruelly1487
blusterously1548
boarishlya1563
tiger-like1576
sternfully1582
mankindly1606
wolvishly1628
truculently1654
tigerously1698
tigerishly1878
the mind > will > decision > obstinacy or stubbornness > [adjective] > perverse
wharfedc1175
thwart-over?c1225
fromwardc1275
thwarta1325
wilgernc1325
contrariousa1340
froward1340
rebours1340
awaywarda1375
overthwartc1384
protervec1384
waywardc1384
arsewardc1386
wrawc1386
wrawfulc1386
crabbeda1400
ungraitha1400
wraweda1400
awklyc1400
perversec1425
awkc1440
perversiosec1475
crooked1508
wrayward1516
awkward1530
difficilec1533
peevish1539
protervous1547
overthwarting1552
untowardly1561
difficult1589
cross1594
cama1600
frowish1601
awkwardish1613
haggardly1635
pigheadeda1637
cross-grained1647
wry1649
crossfulc1680
thwarting1718
kim-kama1734
wronghead1737
piggish1742
witherly1790
top-thrawn1808
contrary1850
cussed1858
three-cornered1863
thwarteous1890
bloody-minded1935
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 198 Neuer ȝet in no boke breued I herde Þat euer he wrek so wyþerly on werk þat he made.
c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 74 Al he wrathed in his wyt & wyþerly he þoȝt.
1790 F. Grose Provinc. Gloss. (ed. 2) Witherly, wilful, contrary.
1847 J. O. Halliwell Dict. Archaic & Provinc. Words II Witherly, hastily; violently. Devon.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
† witherv.1
Obsolete.
intransitive. To be hostile; to offer resistance, fight, struggle.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > hatred > hostility > be hostile [verb (intransitive)]
witherc1000
enemy1382
to have a snout on1941
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > move irregularly or be agitated [verb (intransitive)] > struggle
witherc1000
wrest?c1225
tavec1350
strivea1398
scamble1591
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (intransitive)] > strive against something
witherc1000
wrag?c1225
wrest?c1225
strivec1300
repugna1382
strugglec1412
pressc1480
butt1566
wring?1570
gainstrive1596
wage1608
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > controversy, dispute, argument > contend, dispute, argue [verb (intransitive)]
flitec900
witherc1000
disputea1225
pleadc1275
strive1320
arguec1374
tolyc1440
toilc1450
wrestlec1450
altercate1530
disagree1534
dissent1538
contend1539
controvert1563
wrangle?1570
contestate?1572
to fend and prove?1578
contest1603
vie1604
controverse1605
discept1639
ergot1653
digladiatea1656
misprove1662
spar1698
argufy1804
spat1809
to cross swords1816
argle1823
to bandy words1828
polemize1828
controversialize1841
caffle1851
polemicize1881
ergotize1883
argy-bargy1887
cag1919
snack1956
c1000 Ælfric Homilies I. 552 For ði synd ða gesibsuman Godes bearn, forðan ðe nan ðing on him ne wiðeraþ ongean God.
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 63 Ȝif we wiðerið on dede and on speche toȝenes ure chirche.
c1220 Bestiary 475 Til ðat ðer fleȝes faren and fallen ðer-inne, wiðeren in ðat web, and wilen ut wenden.
a1225 St. Marher. 14 Wrestlin ha moten ant wiðerin wið ham seoluen.
c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 48 Þenne is me lyȝtloker hit lyke..Þenne wyþer wyth & be wroth.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
witherv.2
/ˈwɪðə/, U.S. /ˈwɪðər/ 1. intransitive. Of a plant: To become dry and shrivel up. Often in figurative context or in comparisons. Also with adverbs.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by poor growth > wither [verb (intransitive)]
falloweOE
welka1300
starvec1400
witherc1400
dote?1440
wizena1450
mortifyc1475
vade1492
shrinkc1572
flitter1577
windle1579
shirpc1639
welter1645
welt1854
sickly1882
the world > matter > liquid > dryness > become dry [verb (intransitive)] > become dry or wither
sear?c890
wizenc890
fordrya1000
asearc1000
witherc1400
withera1500
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > deteriorate in condition [verb (intransitive)] > lose freshness
wallowc888
falloweOE
fordwinec1000
foryellowc1220
fade13..
windlec1325
wanzec1400
witherc1400
unappair1426
quail?c1430
withera1500
quell1579
tainta1616
daver1621
welter1645
tarnish1678
α.
β. 1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II v. i. 8 See, or rather doe not see, My faire Rose wither . View more context for this quotation1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost ii. i. 54 Such short liued wits do wither as they grow. View more context for this quotation1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 357 Some [sc. fruits] will last a whole yeare and not wither at all.1637 J. Milton Comus 26 Like a neglected rose It withers on the stalke with languish't head.1668 J. Owen Nature Indwelling-sin xiii. 214 He melts down the lusts of men, causeth them to wither at the root.1763 J. Mills New Syst. Pract. Husbandry IV. 32 Before their necks are withered off, the bulbs should be taken up.1788 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall IV. xliii. 331 The harvest and the vintage withered on the ground.1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. iii, in Poems 132 Like Flowers we wither, and like Leaves we fall.1816 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Canto III xxxii. 19 The tree will wither long before it fall.1842 Ld. Tennyson Locksley Hall in Poems (new ed.) II. 111 Now for me the woods may wither, now for me the roof-tree fall.1888 J. Bryce Amer. Commonw. III. cxiv. 643 After a year or two of bloom, a town wilts and withers.c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 468 & wyddered was þe wodbynde bi þat þe wyȝe wakned.
c1400 26 Pol. Poems v. 5 Riȝt as hay, þey mon widre.
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 378 b/1 They shal neuer fade ne wydder ne lose theyr sauour.
1508 J. Fisher Treat. Penyt. Psalmes sig. nn.viii Saynt Iames compareth the vanyte of this lyfe to the vapoure and seeth it shall perysshe and weder awaye as a floure in the hey season.
?1521 J. Fisher Serm. agayn Luther sig. Biiijv Trees whan they be wydred and theyr leues shaken from them.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Matt. xxi. f. xxixv The fygge tree wyddered awaye.
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. Bb.vijv The grenenes of youthe shall waste and wydder in age.
2. Of other animate things: To become dried up or shrivelled; to lose vigour from lack of animal moisture; to pine or fade away with age, disease, decay, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > dryness > become dry [verb (intransitive)] > become dry or wither
sear?c890
wizenc890
fordrya1000
asearc1000
witherc1400
withera1500
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > deteriorate in condition [verb (intransitive)] > lose freshness
wallowc888
falloweOE
fordwinec1000
foryellowc1220
fade13..
windlec1325
wanzec1400
witherc1400
unappair1426
quail?c1430
withera1500
quell1579
tainta1616
daver1621
welter1645
tarnish1678
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > diseases of tissue > wasting disease > have wasting disease [verb (intransitive)] > wither
forclinga800
weornea1380
wanzec1400
crimple1495
withera1500
α.
β. 1582 Bible (Rheims) Mark ix. 18 He fometh, and gnasheth with the teeth, and withereth.1748 R. James Diss. Fevers (1778) 157 When the eruptions begin to subside and wither.1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna vi. xlix. 152 All lips which I have kissed must surely wither, But Death's.1847 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) xv. 156 Do a kindness to the sweet dear that is withering away.1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. v. 652 Those more unfortunate men who were withering under the tropical sun.1898 J. Hutchinson in Archives Surg. 9 309 Many of the nodules are distinctly withering.a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. iii. 28 Now I wax old,..As muk apon mold I widder away.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 5301 Þe fre kyng Teutra Wex weike of his wound & widrit to dethe.
3.
a. figurative. Of persons, or of inanimate and immaterial things: To lose vigour or freshness, to languish, decline, pine away, fade, fall into decay.
ΚΠ
α.
β. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ecclus. x. 17 He hath caused them to wyther awaye, he hath brought them to naught.1627 R. Sanderson Ten Serm. 276 Men that..are now arriued at the hauen of their businesse, to wither [later edd. weather] for their pasports.a1647 T. Habington Surv. Worcs. (Worcs. Hist. Soc.) (1895) I. i. 70 An honest gentellman witheringe in poverty.a1656 J. Hales Golden Remains (1659) i. 132 An hope of excellent things..which..for want of cherishing fades and withers away.1688 Addr. from Winchester in London Gaz. No. 2350/1 This Ancient City, which is now again weathering by their Absence, which began to Flourish..from being blessed with their Presence.1726 E. Fenton in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey IV. xix. 246 With'ring at heart to see the weeping Fair.1781 W. Cowper Expostulation 324 States thrive or wither, as moons wax and wane.1812 G. Crabbe Tales xvi. 294 A hue like this the western sky displays, That glows awhile, and withers as we gaze.1830 J. Galt Lawrie Todd I. iii. ii. 188 My heart withered as I contemplated the scene.1850 F. D. Maurice Moral & Metaphysical Philos. (ed. 2) I. 155 When that sense [of national union] is weakened it withers.1874 W. Stubbs Constit. Hist. I. i. 8 Christianity..withered under Frank patronage.1901 Scotsman 6 Nov. 9/4 It would be absurd to expect Consols..to stand..at a high level, when all other securities are withering in price.1508 J. Fisher Treat. Penyt. Psalmes sig. oo.i Vnderstondynge wyll and reason..be so vtterly wedred and dryed vp, that noo maner of moysture of deuocyon is in them.
1534 W. Turner tr. J. von Watt Of Olde God & Newe sig. Bviij Yu..doest not widder & dry vp wt ydelnes.
1559 W. Baldwin et al. Myrroure for Magistrates Edward IV. v As vanity to nought all is wyddred away.
b. spec. in to wither away, used with reference to the belief held in Marxist philosophy that when the dictatorship of the proletariat has effected the necessary changes in society, the state will eventually cease to be necessary and will therefore disappear; also used allusively or generally. So withering away.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > politics > political philosophy > communism > [verb (intransitive)] > disappearance of state in Marxism
to wither away1919
society > authority > rule or government > politics > political philosophy > communism > [noun] > Marxism > specific theories or usages
means of production1833
revolution1850
false consciousness1858
superstructure1887
proletarian revolution1888
historical materialism1892
dictatorship of the proletariat1895
synthesis1896
dialectical materialism1898
practice1899
withering away1919
base1933
praxis1933
reification1941
cultural Marxism1949
spontaneism1970
1919 tr. V. Lenin State & Revol. i. 21 Engels speaks here of the destruction of the capitalist State by the proletarian revolution, while the words about its withering away refer to the remains of a proletarian State after the Socialist revolution.
1919 tr. V. Lenin State & Revol. i. 22 Only the proletarian State or semi-State withers away after the revolution.
1935 E. Burns tr. F. Engels Anti-Dühring iii. ii. 315 The government of persons is replaced by the administration of things and the direction of the process of production. The state is not ‘abolished’, it withers away.
1937 Times 7 July 17/6 The Marxist theory of the ‘withering away’ of the State.
1948 M. Laski Tory Heaven v. 81 Reynolds is an M.I.5 nark... Eventually, they say, all that sort of thing will just wither away.
1971 Guardian 9 Sept. 13/1 Stormont was designed to wither away. It was invented in the hope that the two parts of Ireland would become united within the British Empire.
1980 D. Fernbach tr. Buci-Glucksmann Gramsci & State xii. 285 The transition from an inevitable ‘productivist’ phase to an integral state thus takes place by way of hegemony and the distant tendential perspective of a withering away of the state.
1980 D. Fernbach tr. Buci-Glucksmann Gramsci & State xii. 289 A state that withers away to the extent that its function withers away.
a. intransitive and passive. Of a crop: To be dried, to dry. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > cultivation of plants or crops > harvesting > harvest [verb (intransitive)] > dry crops
wither?1523
win1733
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xviiv Pees & beanes..writhen togyder & wyde beneth that they may the better wydder.
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xv Hey..whan it is well wyddred on the ouersyde and dry, than turne it.
1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 55 Corne being had downe..Should wither as nedeth, for burning in mow.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > gas > air > fresh air > freshen (air) [verb (transitive)] > expose to fresh air
weatherc1440
air1530
wither1544
ventilate1756
1544 T. Phaer Of Pestilence (1553) L vij Nor weare any of their apparell, excepte they be well sunned, or wythered in the clean ayre.
1615 T. Overbury et al. New & Choise Characters with Wife (6th impr.) sig. K8v He withers his Cloathes on the Stage, as a Sale-man is forc't to doe his Suits in Birchin-Lane.
c. Tea Manufacturing. To dry (tea leaf) before roasting. Also absol. Also intransitive of the leaf.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > tea manufacture > [verb (transitive)] > dry tea
wither1753
tache1802
fire1875
1753 F. Pigou in A. Dalrymple Oriental Repertory (1794) II. 288 [Bohea-tea] is gathered, then put in Sieves, or Baskets,..and those put in the air, till the leaves wither, or give.
1753 F. Pigou in A. Dalrymple Oriental Repertory (1794) II. 288 Youngshaw..says, that the leaves of Souchon..are beat with flat sticks,..after they have been withered, by the Sun, or Air.
1870 E. Money Cultiv. & Manuf. Tea (1878) xxiv. 108 Why wither at all? I made Tea..of 1st, totally unwithered leaves; and, of leaves but little withered.
1892 J. M. Walsh Tea 104 Two leaves only being picked at a time and ‘withered’ in the open air.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > deteriorate in condition [verb (intransitive)] > waste away > wear > wear by weather
weather1789
wither1794
1794 R. Kirwan Elements Mineral. (ed. 2) I. 224 [Wacken] withers by exposure to the atmosphere, and then becomes more grey.
1834 L. Ritchie Wanderings by Seine 97 The deserted pile withered away stone by stone beneath the breath of heaven.]
5. transitive. To cause (a plant, flower, etc.) to dry up and shrivel. Also in figurative context.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > dryness > dry [verb (transitive)] > wither
shrenchc950
sear1412
to sear up1430
wither1555
sweal1881
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > cause bad condition in [verb (transitive)] > cause to lose freshness
wizen1513
wither1555
wither1599
tarnish1709–10
welt1764
1555 R. Eden tr. S. von Herberstein Rerum moscouiticarum commentarii in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 292 I..sawe the braunches of frutefull trees wythyred by the coulde.
1596 Raigne of Edward III sig. D1 The Sunne that withers heye goth nourish grasse. View more context for this quotation
1668 J. Owen Nature Indwelling-sin xv. 253 He makes their lives..unfruitful to others, in weakening their root, and withering their fruit through his poisoning temptations.
1765 O. Goldsmith Ess. xxvi. 232 That dire disease, whose ruthless power, Withers the beauty's transient flower.
1831 G. P. R. James Philip Augustus xxiv On whose rosy cheek the touch of care had withered not a flower.
1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop ii. xlvi. 54 Where a factory planted among fields withered the space about it, like a burning mountain.
1885 E. Clodd Myths & Dreams i. iii. 41 The fierce heat that withered the approaching harvest.
6. To cause (the body or the physical powers) to become wasted or decayed; to cause to shrink, become wrinkled, or lose freshness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > cause bad condition in [verb (transitive)] > cause to lose freshness
wizen1513
wither1555
wither1599
tarnish1709–10
welt1764
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > diseases of tissue > wasting disease > affect with wasting disease [verb (transitive)] > wither
pinch1548
beblast1558
forwelk1593
wither1599
perish1719
mummify1883
1599 T. Nashe Lenten Stuffe 13 [They] haue not withred vp their handes in signing and subscribing to their requests.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) ii. ii. 241 Age cannot wither her. View more context for this quotation
1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy i. ii. iii. x. 149 They..attenuate our bodies, dry them, wither them.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 850 Every eye..shot forth pernicious fire Among th' accurst, that witherd all thir strength. View more context for this quotation
1740 J. Dyer Ruins of Rome 25 Enfeebling Vice Withers each Nerve.
1827 W. Scott Highland Widow in Chron. Canongate 1st Ser. I. xii. 281 May the tongue that tells me of his death..be withered in thy mouth.
7. figurative. To destroy the vitality or vigour of; to cause to decline, decay, or waste; now somewhat rare except in hyperbolical use, to blight or paralyse with a look of scorn or the like. Also with †out.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > humility > humiliation > humiliate [verb (transitive)] > paralyse by scornful look
wither1836
1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream i. i. 6 Like to a Stepdame, or a dowager, Long withering out a yong mans reuenewe.
1608 Yorkshire Trag. sig. B3 Knew of his morgadg'd lands..himselfe withered with debts.
1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite iii, in Fables 60 Wild Amazement flung From out thy Chariot, withers ev'n the Strong.
1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey II. viii. 120 Like Mars terrific,..When clad in wrath he withers hosts of foes.
1816 J. Wilson City of Plague ii. iii Repent! before the red-eyed Wrath Wither you to ghosts.
1836 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers (1837) iii. 33 Dr. Slammer..said nothing, but contented himself by withering the company with a look.
1854 J. S. C. Abbott Napoleon (1855) I. xxx. 462 The historian..would have been withered by the frowns which would have darkened upon him from the saloons of Versailles [etc.].
1887 A. Jessopp Arcady 172 The world is getting quite too much for us—withering us, in fact.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
> see also
also refers to : wither-prefix
also refers to : wither-comb. form
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n.1OE
n.21648
adj.adv.c1175v.1c1000
v.2c1400see also