The adjective musty can be applied to a plant and also to a person. It is said that a plant or a flower is withered when it has a bad appearance, that is to say, it does not have the greenness that it should have or has lost its freshness. In a similar sense, we say that a person is down when they are sad, melancholic, dull, or in low spirits.
As for the origin of the term, it derives from the Latin mustidus which, in turn, comes from mustum which means must (must is grape juice with a viscous appearance before its fermentation so that it becomes wine).
Withered plants
Botanists know that you need to take care of your plants to keep them looking good. Otherwise, they will be withered and in colloquial language it will be said that they are withered. Obviously, there are several reasons why a plant can be dull: due to lack or excess of water, insufficient light or lack of minerals in the soil. In any case, the element that informs about the plant is its appearance through a series of symptoms: dry and crisp leaves, a brown or yellowish color and the fall of the leaves. When the plant is withered, a proper diagnosis must be made and from there try to regain its healthier appearance.
Why are we withered?
If a person is down, it is inevitable that we wonder why. The reasons are very diverse and complex, to the point that several scientific disciplines can try to give an explanation: psychology, psychiatry or medicine.
Suppose we observe a friend and find that he is withered. Your sadness can have a very diverse origin:
- He has received bad news and is distressed by it.
- He is a person with a sad and dull character.
- You have some kind of anguish, that is, something that torments you.
- Your sadness is a symptom of some physical problem.
- There is a combination of physical and psychological factors, so it is a psychosomatic issue.
Regardless of the reasons, when we feel faint, we must diagnose what is the reason for our dejection. At this point, it is worth remembering some synonyms for the word musty, such as pouty, down, dull, depressed, disheartened, homesick, or discouraged.
Although all of them are equivalent terms, each one contributes a unique nuance. Thus, when affirming that someone is down, we express that their sadness is not deep but is temporary and is a passing issue.
Photos: iStock - Igor Balasanov / tap10
