wizened

American  

[wiz-uhnd, wee-zuhnd] / ˈwɪz ənd, ˈwi zənd /

adjective

1. withered; shriveled.

   a wizened old man; wizened features.

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wizened British  

/ ˈwɪzənd /

adjective

1. shrivelled, wrinkled, or dried up, esp with age

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Etymology

Origin of wizened

First recorded in 1505–15; wizen + -ed ²

Explanation

"You're looking quite wizened today," is a something you should never, ever say to your grandmother, no matter how shriveled with age she might be. Think of a caricature of a witch — not your beloved granny. The verb wizen has fallen out of usage, but the past participle, wizened, continues to function as an adjective meaning wrinkled and shrunken with age or disease. You will see lots of elderly, wizened faces at the park feeding the birds and watching the children play. Although you might expect that folks with lined faces have learned a thing or two, there is no etymological connection between wizened and wise.

Example Sentences

Wizened, wiry Jimmy Baldassare's parents died when he was eleven.

From Time Magazine Archive

Wizened, stoop-shouldered Claudio Aguilar, who works on a neighboring farm, went to work on the pulpit.

From Time Magazine Archive

Wizened old women bent like hunchbacks sold flavored waters and goat's milk from glazed ceramic jugs strapped to their shoulders.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

"I give you one lil' charm, yaas," said the Wizened One when the seance was over, and Manuela, all white and nervous, leaned back in the rickety chair.

From The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories by Dunbar-Nelson, Alice Moore

If you had asked the Wizened One, she would have offered you a charm.

From The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories by Dunbar-Nelson, Alice Moore