The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Perish \Per"ish\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Perished; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Perishing.] [OE. perissen, perisshen, F. p['e]rir, p.
   pr. p['e]rissant, L. perire to go or run through, come to
   nothing, perish; per through + ire to go. Cf. Issue, and
   see -ish.]
   To be destroyed; to pass away; to become nothing; to be lost;
   to die; hence, to wither; to waste away.
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         I perish with hunger!                    --Luke xv. 17.
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         Grow up and perish, as the summer fly.   --Milton.
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         The thoughts of a soul that perish in thinking.
                                                  --Locke.
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