Definition of wilt

The origin of the word "wilt" can be traced back to Old English, where it was spelled as "wilitan" and pronounced as "wī�elṭan." This verb, meaning "to grow weak or faint," was derived from the Old English words "wīɣl" (meaning "will") and "tannan" (meaning "to withstand" or "tolerate"). As the Old English language evolved into Middle English in the 12th century, the word "wilt" became more commonly spelled as "welen" or "welyn," and its pronunciation changed to "wēḷn" or "waivalent." The modern spelling "wilt" appeared in the 16th century, during the Early Modern English period. Its usage expanded to include the meaning "to wither or droop," particularly in relation to plants, as seen in the phrases "wilted flowers" and "wilted vegetables." In English grammar, "wilt" is a weak verb, which means its pronunciation changes depending on its tense and person. For example, in the present tense, it is pronounced as "wilt" (1st and 3rd person singular), "wilts" (3rd person plural), or "will we" (1st person plural), whereas in the past tense, it is pronounced as "wilted" or "wilteth" (in the past participle form).