wizen

[wiz-uhn, wee-zuhn]

verb (used with or without object)

1. to wither; shrivel; dry up.

adjective

1. wizened.

wizen

¹

/ ˈwɪzən /

verb

1. to make or become shrivelled

adjective

1. a variant of wizened

wizen

²

/ ˈwiːzən /

noun

1. an archaic word for weasand

Word History and Origins

Origin of wizen¹

before 900; (v.) Middle English wisenen, Old English wisnian; cognate with Old Norse visna to wither; (adj.) shortened form of wizened

Word History and Origins

Origin of wizen¹

Old English wisnian; related to Old Norse visna, Old High German wesanēn

Example Sentences

It would wizen up, or grow ripe, or it might rot.

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Dicky handed over the baby, whose wizen face was now relaxed in sleep, and slowly disencumbered himself of the ungainly jacket, staring at the wall in a brown study.

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The next Merewig I had to scribble on was a wizen old lady, with little grey curls on the temples, very shabby in dress, and very antiquated in costume.

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The voice comes through their wizen mouths like wind from the crack of an old wainscot.

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"Do you remember a wizen, toothless old wretch, whose eye has more of the Evil One in it than that of many a young thief you see locked up in the county jails?"

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Related Words

• atrophy 
• decay 
• deflate 
• deteriorate 
• disintegrate 
• dry 
• fade 
• languish 
• perish 
• shrink 
• shrivel 
• wane 
• wilt