Basic Details
Word: Wither
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To become weak and dry, often referring to plants losing their freshness and vitality.
Synonyms: Fade, dry up, decline
Antonyms: Flourish, thrive, grow
Idioms and Phrases
- Wither on the vine: To fail to develop or succeed. Example: "His dreams of becoming an artist withered on the vine when he chose a different career."
- Let something wither away: To allow something to decline or disappear gradually. Example: "If we don't take care of the environment, nature will wither away over time."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The flowers began to wither after several days without water, losing their vibrant colours.
Example 2: When the sun shines too hot, the plants in the garden may wither if they are not watered regularly.
Example 3: His enthusiasm for the project started to wither as more obstacles appeared along the way.
Fun Fact
The word wither comes from the Old English term wierian, which means to shrivel or decay. It's been used since the 13th century to describe both plants and metaphorical situations!
Famous Quote
"Friendship is like a plant; it must be regularly watered and nurtured lest it wither away." Anonymous
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "wither" mean?
a) To grow
b) To become weak and dry
c) To jump
d) To dance
Answer: b) To become weak and dry
2. Which of these is a synonym of "wither"?
a) Thrive
b) Flourish
c) Dry up
d) Bloom
Answer: c) Dry up
3. Which of these is an antonym of "wither"?
a) Decline
b) Fade
c) Thrive
d) Dry up
Answer: c) Thrive
4. Which sentence uses "wither" correctly?
a) The plant will wither if it is watered too often.
b) After all the hard work, his motivation began to wither.
c) The tree will wither with sunshine.
d) The kitten began to wither in the tree.
Answer: b) After all the hard work, his motivation began to wither.
5. Which idiom means to fail to develop?
a) Wither on the vine
b) Let something wither away
c) A flower in bloom
d) A rising star
Answer: a) Wither on the vine
