In 1511, leaders in Mecca believed coffee stimulated radical thinking and outlawed the drink. In 1524, the leaders overturned that order, and people could drink coffee again.
SHRIVEL
shrivel, shrivel up, shrink, wither
(verb) wither, as with a loss of moisture; “The fruit dried and shriveled”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
shrivel (third-person singular simple present shrivels, present participle (US) shriveling or (UK) shrivelling, simple past and past participle (US) shriveled or (UK) shrivelled)
(intransitive) To collapse inward; to crumble.
(intransitive) To become wrinkled.
(transitive) To draw into wrinkles.
Source: Wiktionary
Shriv"el, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Shriveled or Shrivelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Shriveling or Shrivelling.] Etym: [Probably akin to shrimp, shrink; cf. dial. AS. screpa to pine away, Norw. skrypa to waste, skryp, skryv, transitory, frail, Sw. skröpling feeble, Dan. skröbelig, Icel. skrj brittle, frail.]
Definition: To draw, or be drawn, into wrinkles; to shrink, and form corrugations; as, a leaf shriveles in the hot sun; the skin shrivels with age; -- often with up.
Shriv"el, v. t.
Definition: To cause to shrivel or contract; to cause to shrink onto corruptions.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
22 April 2025
BRIGHT
(adjective) made smooth and bright by or as if by rubbing; reflecting a sheen or glow; “bright silver candlesticks”; “a burnished brass knocker”; “she brushed her hair until it fell in lustrous auburn waves”; “rows of shining glasses”; “shiny black patents”
Coffee Trivia
