▪ I. ˈshrivel, n.
Also 6 shrevel.
[f. shrivel v.]
Something shrivelled up; † pl. wrinkles in the skin; a shrivelled skin; a contracted word.
| 1547 Boorde Brev. Health ii. lviii. (1557) C j, Rvge is the latin woorde. In Englishe it is named shreuels whiche is a runninge together of the skyn in a mans face and necke. 1835 Blackw. Mag. XXXVIII. 153 We caught an eel, which we skinned, and wore the shrivel for many a day round our ankle. 1873 F. Hall Mod. Engl. 163 Nor is any regard for rule or regularity to be seen..in our decurtate cab, cent, chap..or in such shrivels as aid, alms. |
▪ II. shrivel, v.
(ˈʃrɪv(ə)l)
Also 7 shriule.
[Origin unknown. (Cf. Sw. dial. skryvla to wrinkle.)]
1. intr. To become contracted and wrinkled or curled up, as from great heat or cold. Also with up, away.
| 1612 T. Taylor Comm. Titus ii. 13 That shortly the heauens themselues shall shriule away like a scrowle. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), To Shrivel, to Wrinkle, to run up in Wrinkles or Scrolls. 1707 Mortimer Husb. (1721) II. 312 When the Stalks begin to shrivel at the part next the Branch. 1796 Withering Brit. Plants (ed. 3) IV. 171 This elegant little Agaric is seldom found in full perfection, as it soon shrivels and loses its brilliant colours. 1805 Scott Last Minstr. vi. xxxi, When, shriveling like a parched scroll, The flaming heavens together roll. 1842 Loudon Suburban Hort. 585 The incipient bunches twist and shrivel up just before coming into bloom. 1843 R. J. Graves Syst. Clin. Med. 392 Two..ulcers which speedily scabbed, shrunk and shrivelled away. 1882 Vines tr. Sachs' Bot. 457 It forms a papilla..at the apex which shrivels when the spore ripens. |
| pass. 1588 Greene Perimedes 11 Hir face shriueled, and parched with the Sunne. 1604 N. F. Fruiterers Secrets 27 When Pippins, and other long lasting fruite, begin to be shriueled. 1798 Ferriar Illustr. Sterne iv. 110 That his nose might be shrivelled with cold. 1825 T. Hook Sayings Ser. ii. Passion & Princ. v, The lamb was shrivelled up to a cinder. 1885 Clodd Myths & Dr. i. iii. 22 So scorched was it..that it was shrivelled to the smallest of creatures. |
b. transf. and fig. To be reduced to an inanimate or inefficient condition; (of a person) to shrink physically or mentally.
| 1680 H. More Apocal. Apoc. 60 This Pagan Hierarchy shrivelled up with all the false Deities, and Priests therein. 1818 Scott Br. Lamm. xx, I swore that my rage and revenge should pursue his enemies, until they shrivelled before me like that scorched-up symbol of annihilation. 1835 Lytton Rienzi v. v, I felt his soul shrivel at my gaze. 1875 Farrar Silence & Voices ii. 37 All life shrivelled into a miserable ‘if’ and an empty ‘might have been’. 1887 Jessopp Arcady iii. 70 Undeveloped faculties that shrivel for want of using. |
2. trans. To cause to be contracted or shrunk into wrinkles. Often with up.
| 1608 Shakes. Per. ii. iv. 9 A fire from heaven came and shrivell'd up Their bodies. 1682 Grew Anat. Pl. 10 Lest its new access into the Ayr, should shrivel it. 1751 Smollett Per. Pic. cv, Crabtree shrivelling up his face like an autumn leaf. 1782 A. Monro Compar. Anat. (ed. 3) 5 This..covers the trunk, serving to shrivel the skin, in order to drive off insects. 1856 Mrs. Stowe Dred xxxiv, That fearful collapse, which..shrivels the most healthy countenance..to the shrunken..image of decrepit old age. 1877 Thomson Voy. Challenger I. i. 17 In the tropics a saturated solution is much too strong, and shrivels up delicate tissues. |
b. transf. and fig. To reduce to inanition, helplessness, or ineffectualness.
| 1663 Bp. Patrick Parab. Pilgr. viii. (1687) 30 This is ever the fruit of hard and penurious thoughts of God, that they shrivel up mens hearts too. 1683 Howe Union Prot. Wks. 1862 IV. 266 The want of such a diffusive love shuts up and shrivels the destitute parts. 1824–9 Landor Imag. Conv. Wks. 1846 I. 68 Milton..shrivelled up the lips of his revilers by the austerity of his scorn. 1844 Dickens Chimes iii, Wither me and shrivel me, and free me from the dreadful thoughts that tempt me in my youth! 1859 Habits Gd. Society ix. 284 How the very thought must have shrivelled her up. 1901 Scotsman 12 Mar. 7/4 A passage which the House listened to very closely, fully realising how it finally shrivelled up malignant gossip. |