Kuihtuva

Kuihtuva is a Finnish adjective meaning withering, fading, or drying out. It describes something that is losing vitality, moisture, or color. The term can refer to living organisms such as plants, as well as non-living things or abstract processes that decline over time.

Etymology and form: Kuihtuva is a present active participle formed from the verb kuihtua with the suffix -va. In Finnish, such participles function as adjectives and agree with the noun they modify in number and case, for example kuihtuva kukka, a withering flower.

Usage: Physically, kuihtuva describes things like flowers or foliage that are drying, wilted, or browning. Metaphorically, it can characterize fading interest, waning energy, aging of a person, or the decline of conditions or prospects, often in literary contexts. The term is common in both prose and poetry and can be combined with various nouns to convey gradual deterioration.

See also: kuihtua; Kielitoimiston sanakirja.