moulder

name

1. A surname.

noun

Etymology: Probably a variant of mould (“furry or woolly growth of tiny fungi”), influenced by moulder (“to decay or rot, or to crumble to pieces, etc.”) (etymology 1).

1. Synonym of mould (“a natural substance in the form of a furry or woolly growth of tiny fungi that appears when organic material lies for a long time exposed to (usually warm and moist) air”)

   “[G]reat danger is to be apprehended to the health of the crews, and damage to the provisions and stores on board, from the damp state in which such ships must be in, for a long time after being taken out of the water. Houses, built with stone or mortar, saturated with salt-water, will continue damp for years; and, without almost constant fires, furniture, linen, silks, &c. &c. will be continually damaging, from moulder, rust, and mildew.”

verb

Etymology: From mould (“loose friable soil; rotting earth regarded as the substance of the human body”) + -er (suffix forming frequentative verbs), probably influenced by mould (“furry growth of fungi”). Mould is derived from Middle English mold, molde (“loose friable soil, dirt, earth; earth as the substance out of which God made man, and to which the human body decays into after death”), from Old English molde (“earth, soil”), from Proto-Germanic *muldō (“dirt, soil; furry growth of fungi, mould”), from Proto-Indo-European *melh₂- (“to crush, grind”).

1. Often followed by away or down: to cause (something) to decay or rot, or to crumble to pieces.

   “In a certaine kingdome of theſe late-diſcovered Indies, vpon the day of a ſolemne proceſſion, in vvhich the Idoles they adore, are publikely caried vpo and dovvne, […] there are numbered of others ſeene, vvho proſtrating themſelves alongſt vpon the ground, endure very paciently to be mouldred and cruſhed to death, vnder the Chariots vvheeles, thinking thereby to purchaſe after their death, a veneration of holineſſe, of vvhich they are not defrauded.”

   “[S]harp and corroding rheums had so early mouldered those rocks and hardest parts of his fabric [teeth], that a man might well conceive that his years were never like to double or twice tell over his teeth.”

2. To cause (someone or something) to die away or disappear.

   “How many men have we seen moulder and crumble away great estates, and yet pay no debts?”

3. Often followed by away: to decay or rot, or to crumble to pieces.

   “In buyldinge of a fortreſſe or other honorable mantion⸝ it aught to be well conſidered that the cement⸝ wherewith the ſtones be layde⸝ be firme and well bindynge. For if it be brokle ⁊ will mouldre a way with euery ſhowre of raine⸝ the buyldynge may nat contynewe⸝ […]”

   “To them [the Muses] Great WILLIAM's Glory to recal / VVhen Statues moulder, and vvhen Arches fall.”

4. To die away, to disappear.

   “Let thoſe, vvho in theſe latter dayes haue ſo earneſtly laboured, to frame and eſtabliſh vnto vs, an exerciſe of religion and ſeruice of God, ſo contemplatiue and immaterial, vvonder nothing at all, if ſome be found, vvho thinke, it vvould haue eſcaped and mouldred avvay betvveene their fingers, if it had not held and continued amongſt vs, as a marke, a title and inſtrument of diuiſion and faction, more then by it ſelfe.”

   “As to thoſe offerd condeſcenſions of Charitable connivence, or toleration, if vve conſider vvhat vvent before, and vvhat follovvs, they moulder into nothing.”

5. Often followed by away: of a group of people (especially an army): to diminish in number; to dwindle.

   “The Corniſh Army vvas greater in Reputation, than Numbers; […] if they vvere compelled to march Eaſtvvards, to vvhich they vvere not inclined, it vvas to be doubted they vvould moulder avvay ſo faſt, that there vvould be little addition of ſtrength by it.”

   “The other [preacher] finding his congregation mouldering every Sunday, and hearing at length what was the occasion of it, resolved to give his parish a little Latin in his turn; […]”