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wither

/ˈwɪðə/
Meanings
  • verb

    To cause (a plant or tree) to dry up and die, especially as a result of being exposed to the air or wind.

    - "The leaves of the tree began to wither and fall."
    - "The sun had withered the flowers in the garden."
  • verb

    To become shriveled, wilted, or decayed.

    - "The old book had withered pages."
    - "My grandmother's hands had withered with age."
Pronunciation
  1. /ˈwɪðə/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80152230"
  2. /ˈwɪðə/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80152230"
  3. /ˈwɪðə/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80152230"
Rhymes
Words rhyming with wither
within , winnow , kitten , forgetting
Variants
List of all variants of wither that leads to same result
wither , withered , withering , withers , George Wither , Wither
Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Old English withran; related to witan to know.

Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

  1. The word 'wither' comes from the Old English word 'withran', which means 'to know'. It is believed that the word came to mean 'to cause to wither' because knowledge of the conditions that cause plants to wither was once thought to be a powerful form of magic.

  2. In some parts of the world, the withering of leaves is seen as a sign of impending rain. This is because the wilting of leaves causes the plant to release moisture, which can then be absorbed by the soil and used by other plants.

  3. In the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, the 'Withering Way' is a spell that causes plants to wither and die. It is often used as a form of revenge or punishment.

Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

  1. Decay: The process of deterioration and eventual death of organic matter. Wither is a form of decay that specifically refers to the shriveling or wilting of plant or tree tissue.

  2. Passage of time: Wither is often used metaphorically to describe the passage of time and the decay or deterioration that comes with it. For example, in the poem 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock' by T.S. Eliot, the narrator says, 'Let us go then, you and I, When the evening is spread out against the sky Like a procession of stars: let us go, through certain half-deserted streets, The muttering retreats Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels And sawdust restaurants with a shameless landlady Who will sell it, cheap, on the house.' Here, the 'procession of stars' can be seen as a metaphor for the passage of time, and the decay and deterioration that the narrator experiences in the city can be seen as a manifestation of that passage.

Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, 'wither' has been used as a metaphor for the decay or deterioration of things, often symbolizing the passage of time or the loss of vitality. For example, in Shakespeare's play 'Romeo and Juliet', the character Tybalt famously says, 'A brag, a brag!: and they in turn, 'A buckslicks, a rascal!' They have made a wager on the outcome of a sword fight, and Tybalt uses the word 'wither' to insult Romeo and Mercutio.

How to Memorize "wither"

  1. visualize

    - To visualize 'wither', imagine a plant or tree slowly losing moisture and becoming shriveled and wilted. Consider the colors and textures of the plant as it withers, and imagine the sensation of the leaves crumbling in your hands.

  2. associate

    - Associate the word 'wither' with the idea of decay or deterioration. Think of words like 'decay', 'deteriorate', 'shrivel', and 'wilt'. You can also associate it with the passage of time, as the decay and deterioration that 'wither' describes is often a manifestation of the passage of time.

  3. mnemonics

    - Create a mnemonic by remembering the phrase 'Wilted In Time Happens Everyday'. This phrase can help you remember that 'wither' refers to the process of decay or deterioration that occurs over time.

Memorize "wither" using Dictozo

The best and recommended way to memorize wither is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:

  1. Highlighting:

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