Wizen v.

Also 5 wisen, 6 wisne, 8–9 wizzen. [OE. wisnian, weosnian (also áwisnian, forwisnian) = OHG. wesanên, -(e)nên, also ar-, ir-, firwesenên, ON. visna (Sw. vissna, Da. visne); cf. ON. visinn (Sw., Da. vissen) withered, palsied: f. Teut. wis-, whence also MHG. wesel weak, perished; cf. Lith. výsti to wither, L. viēscere to wither, W. gwyw (:—*wiswo-) withered, OIr. feugud ‘marcor.’]

  1.  intr. Of plants: To dry up, shrivel, wither. Also transf. of persons, their features, etc. See also WIZENED.

  c. 890.  Wærferth, trans. Gregory’s Dial. 134. Heo byð ʓeswenced, þæt heo weornað [MS. O. weosnað] & brosnaþ in hire sylfre.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., John xv. 6. Ʒif huælc in mec ne wunas ʓesended bið buta suælce tuigga & dryʓeð vel wisneð.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 115. Þa he [sc. the world] þus fæʓer wæs … þa wisnode he on Cristes haliʓra heortum.

c. 1050.  Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 343. Arida, weosniendre.

  a. 1450.  MS. Cantab. Ff. v. 48, lf. 90. Þe tre weloid & wisened sone, & wex olde and dry.

  1787.  Grose, Prov. Gloss., Wizzen, to wither. N.

1818.  Todd, To Wizen, to wither; to become dry:… Common in several parts of the north of England.

1864.  J. Gilbert & G. C. Churchill, Dolomite Mountains, 493. After wizening with cold for an hour, we ran down to the hut for breakfast.

1883.  D. C. Murray, Hearts, xxvi. His plump features wizened, and his rosy cheeks grew white.

  2.  trans. To cause to wither or shrivel. Sc.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, VI. xii. 42. Tharfor thai suffir panis and turment,… Sum stentit bene in wisnand windis wak.

a. 1895.  R. McL. Calder, Berwicksh. Bard (1897), 223.