wizen

adj

1. Wizened; withered; lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness.

   “His face was wizen and wrinkled, his faded blue eyes dim and weak-looking. He was feeble, and his hands were tremulous with a perpetual nervous motion.”

   “Yes, there would be a day when his face would be wrinkled and wizen, his eyes dim and colourless, the grace of his figure broken and deformed. The scarlet would pass away from his lips and the gold steal from his hair.”

verb

1. (ambitransitive)To wither; to become, or make, lean and wrinkled by shrinkage, as from age or illness.

   “After wizening with cold for an hour, we ran down to the hut for breakfast, rejoicing in having brought with us some portable soup ; and after a second visit to the summit, started at eight, when the day seemed already far advanced, along with the Bleiberg party, for the descent.”

   “Where his suspicions were cast no man knew for certain, but his plump features wizened, and his rosy cheeks grew white, his proud head drooped, and he walked with a piteous uncertainty for so pompous and lofty a man.”

   “1–2000 solution gave no blackening, the tissues of the apple wizening before any effect was seen.”

   “Shrink like coal on the hearth! Wizen like filth on the wall!”