Wizening is spelled with a "z" not an "s" because the sound it represents is a voiced fricative, which is produced by vibrating the vocal cords. The IPA phonetic transcription is /ˈwɪzənɪŋ/. The "z" sound is represented by the symbol "z" and the unstressed "i" sound is represented by the symbol "ə". The "n" sound is represented by the symbol "n" and the stress is indicated by the symbol "ˈ" before the first syllable. "Wizening" means becoming dry, shrunken or wrinkled due to age or lack of vitality.
Wizening is a term that refers to the gradual process of becoming physically or mentally withered, wrinkled, or shrinked, usually due to age or the effects of time. It is commonly used to describe the natural progression of aging in living organisms, particularly in regard to the physical appearance of the skin, body, or features. When something or someone is said to be wizening, it implies a transformation characterized by the loss of youthful vitality and the acquisition of a more weathered or aged look.
In terms of physical characteristics, wizening often manifests as the development of wrinkles, lines, and creases on the skin caused by the breakdown of collagen and elastin fibers. It can also involve the reduction in volume or shrinkage of body parts, such as muscles, facial features, or limbs, due to the loss of tissue density or muscle mass. Wizening may also be used metaphorically to describe the mental or emotional changes that occur with age, such as a decrease in cognitive abilities, memory, or agility. It can denote the general decline in physical or mental prowess associated with getting older.
Overall, wizening captures the gradual and inevitable changes that living organisms undergo as they advance in age, highlighting the transformative power of time on both appearance and functionality.
The word "wizening" is derived from the Old English word "wisnian", which means "to shrivel" or "to wither". It is related to the Middle Low German word "wesen" which means "to dry up" or "to wither". Over time, the word evolved into "wisen" and eventually "wizening" in modern English. The term is typically used to describe a process of becoming wrinkled or shriveled, often associated with aging or drying out.