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Wither vs Wether - What's the difference?

wither | wether |

In transitive terms the difference between wither and wether

is that wither is to make helpless due to emotion while wether is to castrate a male sheep or goat.

As verbs the difference between wither and wether

is that wither is to go against, resist; oppose while wether is to castrate a male sheep or goat.

As an adverb wither

is against, in opposition to.

As a noun wether is

a castrated buck goat.

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

    wether

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (dialectal)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A castrated buck goat.
  • A castrated ram.
  • * {{quote-book
  • , year=1527 , author=George Joye , title= The storie of my state after the bishop had receyued the pryours letters , chapter= citation , isbn= , page= , passage=There was a great fyer in the chamber, the wether was colde, and I saw now and then a Bishop come out;}} (cited after Samuel Roffey Maitland, 1866, p. 8)

    Derived terms

    * bellwether

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To castrate a male sheep or goat.