wilt

¹

[ wilt ]

verb (used without object)

1. to become limp and drooping, as a fading flower; wither.
2. to lose strength, vigor, assurance, etc.:

   to wilt after a day's hard work.

   Synonyms: weaken, ebb, droop, wane

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to wilt.

noun

1. the act of wilting, or the state of being wilted:

   a sudden wilt of interest in the discussion.

2. Plant Pathology.
   1. the drying out, drooping, and withering of the leaves of a plant due to inadequate water supply, excessive transpiration, or vascular disease.
   2. a disease so characterized, as fusarium wilt.
3. a virus disease of various caterpillars, characterized by the liquefaction of body tissues.

wilt

²

[ wilt ]

verb

, Archaic.

1. second person singular present indicative of will ¹.

wilt

¹

/ wɪlt /

verb

1. to become or cause to become limp, flaccid, or drooping

   insufficient water makes plants wilt

2. to lose or cause to lose courage, strength, etc
3. tr to cook (a leafy vegetable) very briefly until it begins to collapse

noun

1. the act of wilting or state of becoming wilted
2. any of various plant diseases characterized by permanent wilting, usually caused by fungal parasites attacking the roots

wilt

²

/ wɪlt /

verb

1. archaic.
   used with the pronounthou or its relative equivalent a singular form of the present tense (indicative mood) of will 1

Word History and Origins

Origin of wilt¹

First recorded in 1685–95; dialectal variant of wilk “to wither,” itself variant of welk, Middle English welken, probably from Middle Dutch welken; compare German welk “withered”

Word History and Origins

Origin of wilt¹

C17: perhaps variant of wilk to wither, from Middle Dutch welken

Example Sentences

Add the spinach a few handfuls at a time, adding more as the spinach in the pan begins to wilt.

From Washington Post

If you just have it out at a farmer’s market, it’s going to wilt.

From Freakonomics

Ly braises radishes in a buttery broth, then folds in their greens until wilted.

From Washington Post

Cook until they wilt and the liquid reduces slightly, 2 to 3 minutes.

From Washington Post

Add the spinach and salt, and cook until the spinach wilts, releases its liquid and dries out, about 5 minutes.

From Washington Post

Wilt Chamberlain once pointed out that “nobody loves Goliath,” as an excuse for his enduring unpopularity.

From The Daily Beast

They have to have the courage not to wilt or get the vapors whenever a right-winger invokes the evil gummint or the hated Kenyan.

From The Daily Beast

But the two young girls, Thornton and Wilt, never seemed to lose energy.

From The Daily Beast

At the foot of the adjacent 4-foot high gravestones are floral arrangements that are just starting to wilt.

From The Daily Beast

And I do agree with him on Wilt Chamberlain, whom we will discuss at length in the future.

From The Daily Beast

The old error is passed away: thou wilt keep peace: peace, because we have hoped in thee.

From Project Gutenberg

And how wilt thou stand against the face of the judge of one place, of the least of my master's servants?

From Project Gutenberg

I hoped till morning, as a lion so hath he broken all my bones: from morning even to night thou wilt make an end of me.

From Project Gutenberg

For I know that transgressing thou wilt transgress, and I have called thee a transgressor from the womb.

From Project Gutenberg

Wilt thou yet say before them that slay thee: I am God; whereas thou art a man, and not God, in the hand of them that slay thee?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cave in
• diminish
• droop
• dwindle
• ebb
• fade
• faint
• melt
• shrivel
• succumb
• wane
• wither