withers etymology

Etymology:

• Old English "wither" (transitive verb), meaning "to dry up, shrivel, or waste away"
• Old Norse "viðr" (transitive verb), meaning "to wither, fade, or decay"
• Proto-Germanic "wiðran" (transitive verb), meaning "to wither, dry up"

Meaning:

• To become dry and shriveled, lose moisture or vitality
• To waste away or decline gradually
• To lose strength, energy, or vigor

Origin:

The word "withers" has its origins in the Proto-Germanic language, spoken by the Germanic peoples who lived in Northern Europe from around 500 BC to the 1st century AD. The Proto-Germanic word "wiðran" likely evolved from an even earlier Indo-European root, possibly "wid-" or "wed-," meaning "to dry up."

The word "withers" has undergone several sound changes since its Proto-Germanic origins. In Old English, the "ð" sound in "wiðran" shifted to "th," resulting in the form "wither." In Modern English, the spelling was further altered to "withers" to reflect the pronunciation of the "th" sound as voiceless /θ/.

withers relate terms

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• reed

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• writhe

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