verb intrans
to become dry and shrivelled, e.g. from loss of moisture, age, or disease
to lose vitality, force, or freshness
to cause (something) to wither
to make (somebody) speechless or incapable of action, esp with a scornful look or remark
She withered him with a look — Dorothy Sayers
withering adj
witheringly adv
[Middle English, alteration of weather2]