molder

¹

especially British, mould·er

[mohl-der]

verb (used without object)

1. to turn to dust by natural decay; crumble; disintegrate; waste away.

   a house that had been left to molder.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to molder.

molder

²

[mohl-der]

noun

1. a person or thing that molds.

2. a person who makes molds.

3. Printing.,  one of a set of electrotyped plates used only for making duplicate electrotypes (worker ).

molder

/ ˈməʊldə /

verb

1. the US spelling of moulder 1

Other Word Forms

• unmoldered adjective
• unmoldering adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of molder¹

1525–35; obsolete mold to crumble (v. use of mold ³ ) + -er ⁶

Origin of molder²

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; mold ¹, -er ¹

Example Sentences

If you think we’re kidding, slow your roll: The first one, which we didn’t hate, understood the ominous, moldering potential of a kiddie restaurant gone to seed.

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It might even inspire you to go out to the garage and excavate that moldering set of clubs.

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While the case moldered and the family grieved, Stephanie Lazarus kept her badge and her secret.

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Even in times of relative peace, the “Star Wars” galaxy is moldering with economic inequality, burdensome military spending and distracted leaders who are content to maintain the status quo.

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For me to even open an envelope meant a trip to my stepmother’s house, where the precious cache was moldering in a mildewed basement.

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Related Words

• decompose