marcesco, ĕre, v. inch. n. [marceo], to wither, pine away, droop, decay (not in Cic. or Caes.).
I Lit.: fagus et cerrus celeriter marcescunt, Plin. 16, 40, 79, § 218: quae spectatissime florent, celerrime marcescunt, id. 21, 1, 1, § 2: calamus, Vulg. Isa. 19, 6.—
II Transf., to become weak, feeble, powerless, to pine or waste away, languish : marcescens celerius nominis sui flore, fading , Plin. 37, 9, 41, § 125: alia genera pecorum morbo et languoribus marcescunt, Col. 7, 7, 1: senio vires, Plin. 22, 22, 38, § 81: vino, Ov. P. 1, 5, 45: equitem marcescere desidia, Liv. 28, 35, 3: marcescere otii situ, id. 33, 45, 7: otio, id. 35, 35, 9: otia per somnos, Ov. P. 2, 9, 61: dives, Vulg. Jac. 1, 11.