wither
/ˈwɪðə(r)/verb
1
- no obj.(of a plant) become dry and shriveled（植物）干枯, 枯萎：
the grass had withered to an unappealing brown
草枯黄了, 不吸引人了
as adj. withered withered leaves.枯叶。
1.1
- (of a person, limb, or the skin) become shrunken or wrinkled from age or disease（人的四肢、皮肤等）变枯槁; 萎缩：
as adj. withered a girl with a withered arm.一位手臂萎缩的女孩。
1.2
- cease to flourish; fall into decay or decline衰落; 萧条; 失去活力：
programmes would wither away if they did not command local support.
如果得不到当地的支持, 项目就会丧失其活力。
1.3
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（马克思主义的状态）消亡。
2
- with obj. cause harm or damage to损害; 毁坏：
a business that can wither the hardiest ego.
一件足以挫伤最坚强自我意识的事。
2.1
- mortify (someone) with a scornful look or manner使（人）难堪; 使窘迫; 使羞惭：
his clipped tone withered Sylvester.
他尖刻的语调使西尔威斯特感到难堪。
短语
wither on the vine
- fail to be implemented or dealt with because of neglect or inaction（因疏忽、无行动而）未贯彻; 未处理。
词源
late Middle English: apparently a variant of WEATHER, ultimately differentiated for certain senses.