wizen

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English wisenen, from Old English wisnian, weosnian, from Proto-Germanic *wisnōjaną, from *wesaną (“to consume”). Cognate with Icelandic visna, Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌰𐍅𐌹𐍃𐌰𐌽 (frawisan, “to squander through feasting”).

adj

1. Wizened; withered; lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness.
   His face was wizen and wrinkled, his faded blue eyes dim and weak-looking. He was feeble, and his hands were tremulous with a perpetual nervous motion. 1864, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Henry Dunbar

verb

1. (transitive, intransitive) To wither; to become, or make, lean and wrinkled by shrinkage, as from age or illness.
   After wizening with cold for an hour, we ran down to the hut for breakfast, rejoicing in having brought with us some portable soup ; and after a second visit to the summit, started at eight, when the day seemed already far advanced, along with the Bleiberg party, for the descent. 1864, Josiah Gilbert Holland, G. C. Churchill, “The Morning Panorama”, in The Dolomite Mountains: Excursions through Tyrol, Carinthia, Carniola, & Friuli in 1861, 1862, & 1863, London: Longman et al., page 493
   Where his suspicions were cast no man knew for certain, but his plump features wizened, and his rosy cheeks grew white, his proud head drooped, and he walked with a piteous uncertainty for so pompous and lofty a man. 1883, David Christie Murray, Hearts, volume III, London: Chatto & Windus, page 30
   1–2000 solution gave no blackening, the tissues of the apple wizening before any effect was seen. 1920, G. H. Coons, Genevieve Gillette, “Phenol Injury to Apples”, in Annual Report of The Michigan Academy of Science, volume 21, page 327