1. [v]  wither, esp. with a loss of moisture; "The fruit dried and shriveled"
2. [v]  lose freshness, vigor, or vitality; "Her bloom was fading"

Wither
When a quiet college town is invaded by bloodhungry demons, a savvy college freshman teams up with a local amateur historian to uncover a terrifying crime in the town's past. Reprint.

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1. \With"er\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Withered}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Withering}.] [OE. wideren; probably the same word as
   wederen to weather (see {Weather}, v. & n.); or cf. G.
   verwittern to decay, to be weather-beaten, Lith. vysti to
   wither.]
   1. To fade; to lose freshness; to become sapless; to become
      sapless; to dry or shrivel up.
            Shall he hot pull up the roots thereof, and cut off
            the fruit thereof, that it wither?    --Ezek. xvii.
                                                  9.
   2. To lose or want animal moisture; to waste; to pin? away,
      as animal bodies.
            This is man, old, wrinkled, faded, withered. --Shak.
            There was a man which had his hand withered. --Matt.
                                                  xii. 10.
            Now warm in love, now with'ring in the grave.
                                                  --Dryden.
   3. To lose vigor or power; to languish; to pass away. ``Names
      that must not wither.'' --Byron.
            States thrive or wither as moons wax and wane.
                                                  --Cowper.
   

2. \With"er\, v. t.
   1. To cause to fade, and become dry.
            The sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but
            it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof
            falleth.                              --James i. 11.
   2. To cause to shrink, wrinkle, or decay, for want of animal
      moisture. ``Age can not {wither} her.'' --Shak.
            Shot forth pernicious fire Among the accursed, that
            withered all their strength.          --Milton.
   3. To cause to languish, perish, or pass away; to blight; as,
      a reputation withered by calumny.
            The passions and the cares that wither life.
                                                  --Bryant.