WILT, verb intransitive [G., to fade; that is, to shrink or withdraw.] To begin to wither; to lose freshness and become flaccid, as a plant when exposed to great heat in a dry day, or when first separated from its root. This is a legitimate word, for which there is no substitute in the language. It is not synonymous with wither, as it expresses only the beginning of withering. A wilted plant often revives and becomes fresh; not so a withered plant. WILT, verb transitive 1. To cause to begin to wither; to make flaccid; as a green plant. 2. To cause to languish; to depress or destroy the vigor and energy of. Despots have wilted the human race into sloth and imbecility.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI