wither

 
Pronunciation: /ˈwɪðə/

verb

  • 1 [no object] (of a plant) become dry and shrivelled: the grass had withered to an unappealing brown (as adjective withered) withered leaves
  • (of a part of the body) become shrunken or wrinkled from age or disease: (as adjective withered) a girl with a withered arm
  • 2 [no object] fall into decay or decline: it is not true that old myths either die or wither away
  • [with object] cause to decline or deteriorate; weaken: a business that can wither the hardiest ego
  • (wither away) (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 [with object] humiliate (someone) with a scornful look or manner: she withered him with a glance

Phrases

wither on the vine

fail to be implemented or dealt with because of inaction: that resolution clearly withered on the vine

Origin:

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