wizen

1 of 2

verb

wiz·​en ˈwi-zᵊn How to pronounce wizen (audio)
also
ˈwē- How to pronounce wizen (audio)
wizened; wizening
ˈwiz-niŋ,
 also  ˈwēz-;
ˈwi-zᵊn-iŋ How to pronounce wizen (audio)
 also  ˈwē-

intransitive verb

: to become dry, shrunken, and wrinkled often as a result of aging or of failing vitality

transitive verb

: to cause to wizen
a face wizened by age

wizen

2 of 2

adjective

: that is wizened

Examples of wizen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The Keogh siblings, wizened by a lifetime of co-existing, are onto something. Jerry Carino, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2020 But these days, Pop’s torso, wizened from that early stagecraft and seven decades on earth, is more likely to be found under the Miami or Cayman Islands sun. Michael B. Dougherty, Esquire, 18 Jan. 2018 The scene, overflowing with food, glistening lighting and love passed among wizards wizened and budding, tells us that Hogwarts is the greatest place on earth. Peter Dobrin, Philly.com, 29 July 2017 Her fiction celebrated the couplings of a wide range of characters: teenage girls, wizened old women, circus performers, wolves. Maggie Doherty, New Republic, 18 July 2017 From last year's blind Chinese crested champion Sweepee Rambo to oddballs like pitbull Quasi Modo and wizened, whiskered Yoda, take a look through the decade's winners of the odd title. Raisa Bruner, Time, 23 June 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wizen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English wisenen, from Old English wisnian; akin to Old High German wesanēn to wither, Lithuanian vysti

Adjective

alteration of wizened

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Adjective

1786, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wizen was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near wizen

Cite this Entry

“Wizen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wizen. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

wizen

verb
wiz·​en
ˈwiz-ᵊn
wizened; wizening
: to become shrunken or wrinkled often as a result of aging

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