Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Wither \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.

Withering \With"er*ing\, a.
   Tending to wither; causing to shrink or fade. --
   {With"er*ing*ly}, adv.

Source : WordNet®

withering
     adj 1: wreaking or capable of wreaking complete destruction;
            "possessing annihilative power"; "a devastating
            hurricane"; "the guns opened a withering fire" [syn: {annihilative},
             {annihilating}, {devastating}]
     2: making light of; "afire with annihilating invective"; "a
        devastating portrait of human folly"; "to compliments
        inflated I've a withering reply"- W.S.Gilbert [syn: {annihilating},
         {devastating}]

withering
     n : any weakening or degeneration (especially through lack of
         use) [syn: {atrophy}]