shrivel

/ˈʃɹɪvəl/

Etymology

First recorded as shriveled (“shrivelled”), probably of North Germanic origin related to dialectal Swedish skryvla (“to wrinkle, shrivel”); perhaps ultimately related to Proto-Germanic *skrinkwaną (“to shrivel, shrink”) or *skrimpaną (“to shrink”).

shrivel means To collapse inward; to crumble. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 81 out of 100.

verb

To collapse inward; to crumble.“The plant shrivelled from lack of water.”
To become wrinkled.“His fingers were shriveled from being in the bath for too long.”
To draw into wrinkles.“The hot sun shrivelled the leaves.”