wither

Etymology 1

From Middle English widren, wydderen (“to dry up, shrivel”), related to or perhaps an alteration of Middle English wederen (“to expose to weather”), from Old English wederian (“to expose to weather, exhibit a change of weather”). Cognates From Proto-Germanic: Dutch verwederen, Dutch verweren (“to erode by weather”), German verwittern (“to be ruined by weather; to erode”). More at weather.

verb

1. (intransitive) To shrivel, droop or dry up, especially from lack of water.
2. (transitive) To cause to shrivel or dry up.
   There was a man which had his hand withered.
3. (intransitive, figurative) To lose vigour or power; to languish; to pass away.
   States thrive or wither as moons wax and wane. 1782, William Cowper, Expostulation
4. (intransitive) To become helpless due to emotion.
5. (transitive) To make helpless due to emotion.

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

noun

1. singular of withers (“part of the back of a four-legged animal that is between the shoulder blades”)
   Timozel had slid his feet quickly from the stirrups and swung his leg over the horse's wither as it slumped to the ground, standing himself in one graceful movement. 2007, Sara Douglass, Enchanter, Macmillan
   If a saddle tips too far forward it may rest on the horse's wither and cause pain. There should always be a gap of roughly 5 cm between the horse's wither and the pommel when you are sitting on the saddle. 2008, Kate Luxmoore, Introduction to Equestrian Sports, page 140

Etymology 3

From Middle English wither, from Old English wiþer (“again, against”, adverb in compounds), from Proto-West Germanic *wiþr (“against, toward”). Cognates From Proto-Germanic: Low German wedder (“against”), Dutch weer (“again, back”), German wider (“against, contrary to”), German wieder (“again”), Gothic 𐍅𐌹𐌸𐍂𐌰 (wiþra), Old Norse viðr. More at with.

adv

1. (obsolete or chiefly in compounds) Against, in opposition to.

Etymology 4

From Middle English witheren, from Old English wiþerian (“to resist, oppose, struggle against”). Cognates From Proto-Germanic: Middle Dutch wideren, Old High German widarōn.

verb

1. (obsolete) To go against, resist; oppose.