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Wither vs Perish - What's the difference?

wither | perish |

In intransitive terms the difference between wither and perish

is that wither is to become helpless due to emotion while perish is to die; to cease to live.

As verbs the difference between wither and perish

is that wither is to go against, resist; oppose while perish is to pass away; to come to naught; to waste away; to decay and disappear.

As an adverb wither

is against, in opposition to.

wither

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl), from (etyl) .

Adverb

(en adverb)
  • (obsolete, or, chiefly in compounds) Against, in opposition to.
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) (m), from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To go against, resist; oppose.
  • Etymology 3

    From (etyl) (m), .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To shrivel, droop or dry up, especially from lack of water.
  • To cause to shrivel or dry up.
  • * Bible, Matthew xii. 10
  • There was a man which had his hand withered .
  • * Shakespeare
  • This is man, old, wrinkled, faded, withered .
  • * Dryden
  • now warm in love, now with'ring in the grave
  • (figurative) To lose vigour or power; to languish; to pass away.
  • * Byron
  • names that must not wither
  • * Cowper
  • States thrive or wither as moons wax and wane.
  • To become helpless due to emotion.
  • To make helpless due to emotion.
  • Usage notes
    * Not to be confused with whither .

    Anagrams

    * whiter, writhe

    perish

    English

    Verb

    (es)
  • To pass away; to come to naught; to waste away; to decay and disappear.
  • To die; to cease to live.
  • * 1719 ,
  • ...the ship struck upon a sand, and ... the sea broke over her in such a manner that we expected we should all have perished immediately; and we were immediately driven into our close quarters, to shelter us from the very foam and spray of the sea.
  • (obsolete) To cause to perish.
  • (Francis Bacon)

    Synonyms

    * decease, pass away * See also

    Derived terms

    * perish the thought

    Anagrams

    *