wilt
UK: wɪlt | US: wɪlt
vi. (of a plant) to droop or lose freshness
vt. to cause (a plant) to droop or wither
vi. (figuratively) to lose energy or vitality
wilt = wil<to fade> + t (inflectional suffix)
- wil (Old English wieltan, meaning "to fade or wither")
- t (common Germanic verb suffix, often marking past tense or participle forms)
Etymology Origin:
The word "wilt" traces back to Old English wieltan, which described the drooping or fading of plants. Over time, the spelling simplified to "wilt," retaining its core meaning of losing vigor. The verb suffix "-t" aligns with Germanic linguistic patterns, reinforcing its action-oriented nature. The word later expanded metaphorically to describe human exhaustion or decline.
The flowers began to wilt under the scorching sun.
Without water, the lettuce will wilt within hours.
Her enthusiasm wilted after hearing the disappointing news.
The heat caused the entire garden to wilt by noon.
He felt his confidence wilt under their critical stares.