weazen

An old apple sits weazen and wrinkled on the wooden table.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Withered or shriveled: "weazen" describes something that is dried up, shrunken, and wrinkled, often due to age or lack of moisture.
   • Thin and lean: It can also refer to a person or thing that appears gaunt, scrawny, or emaciated.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The old man had a weazen face, lined and dry from years of hard work. (His face was withered and wrinkled.)
  • The weazen apples had been left in the sun too long. (The apples were shriveled and dried out.)
  • A weazen cat wandered the streets, looking thin and neglected. (The cat was scrawny and emaciated.)

Advanced Usage

• "Weazen" as a variant of "wizened": The word is often considered an alternate spelling or pronunciation of "wizened," which carries the same meaning of being dried up or wrinkled.
  • The weazen old woman told stories of her youth. (The wrinkled, aged woman shared memories.)
• In literary or poetic contexts: "Weazen" may be used to evoke a sense of decay or age.
  • The weazen leaves rustled in the autumn wind. (The dried, brittle leaves made a rustling sound.)

Variants and Related Words

• Weazened (adj): a form meaning "made weazen" or "caused to become withered."
  • The fruit was weazened by the harsh climate. (The fruit became shriveled due to the environment.)
• Wizen (v): to become dry, shriveled, or wrinkled.
  • The skin will wizen if exposed to too much sun. (The skin will dry and wrinkle.)
• Wizened (adj): the more common spelling, meaning "shrunken and wrinkled."
  • The wizened old man smiled gently. (The wrinkled, aged man smiled.)

Synonyms

• Shriveled: contracted and wrinkled, often from loss of moisture.
  • The shriveled leaves lay on the ground. (The leaves were dried and curled.)
• Withered: dried up and decayed, especially from age or lack of water.
  • The withered flower had lost its petals. (The flower was dried and fading.)
• Gaunt: extremely thin and bony, often from hunger or illness.
  • His gaunt appearance worried his friends. (He looked emaciated and unhealthy.)

Related Idioms

• Weazen-faced: describing someone with a thin, wrinkled, and aged face.
  • The weazen-faced merchant haggled over the price. (The merchant’s face was wrinkled and lean.)
• Weazen-like: resembling something that is withered or shriveled.
  • The weazen-like tree stood alone in the desert. (The tree looked dried and lifeless.)

Phrasal Verbs (None directly associated)

• The word "weazen" does not commonly appear in phrasal verbs. It is primarily an adjective or a rare verb form.