▪ I. shrivelling, vbl. n.
(ˈʃrɪv(ə)lɪŋ)
[f. shrivel v. + -ing1.]
The action of the verb shrivel.
| a 1631 Donne Serm. (1649) II. xv. 126 A shriveling of my flesh with superstitious and meritorious fastings. 1667 Phil. Trans. II. 454 Some shriveling of the outward skin of the Bark. 1842 Loudon Suburban Hort. 441 Ventilation by continual currents of air..acts in the same way as light, in producing shrivelling. 1883 Sunday Mag. July 435/2 The shrivelling of the Eastern Roman empire. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 600 If the sclerotic shrivelling be well-marked. |
▪ II. ˈshrivelling, ppl. a.
[f. shrivel v. + -ing2.]
That shrivels; Bot. = marcescent.
| 1776 Withering Bot. Arrangem. Veget. 258 Stitchwort...Petals..flat; oblong; shrivelling. 1816 A. Boswell Sheldon Haughs (1830) 167 Stealin change o' shriv'lin time Had quench'd the vigour o' his prime. 1849 De Quincey Engl. Mail Coach Wks. 1854 IV. 345 Like a shrivelling scroll from before the wrath of fire! 1873 R. Broughton Nancy I. 33 Oh, spring! spring! with all your searching east winds, with your late shrivelling frost. |