desiccate

Meanings

Verb

• To remove moisture from; to dry.
• To preserve by drying.
• To become dry; to dry up.

Adjective

• Having had moisture removed; dehydrated, dessicated.

Noun

• A substance which has been dessicated, that is, had its moisture removed.

Origin

• From Latin dēsiccāre ("to dry completely, dry up") -ate. Dēsiccāre is derived from dēsiccō (from dē- + siccō, from siccus, from Proto-Indo-European *seyk-) + -āre.
• The adjective is derived from Latin dēsiccātus ("dried up"), the perfect passive participle of dēsiccō: see above. The noun is derived from the adjective.