Molder
/ˈmoʊl.dɚ/noun
To decay slowly, crumble, or become covered with mold; also, in some dialects, to crumble into dust.
Did you know?‘Molder’ is tied to the old Germanic word for mold and mildew, so the word itself grew out of the language of rot, dampness, and slow decomposition.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mel-
“To grind, crush, or reduce to a fine substance.”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*maldaz / *muldaz
“Crushed, soft, or decayed matter; related to the idea of crumbling earth or dust.”
Old English
OE
mold
“Earth, soil, or ground; also dust and loose earth.”
Middle English
ME
molden
“To crumble, decay, or become earthy; later also to become covered with mold.”
Modern English
English
molder
“To decay slowly or crumble away.”