aridities
|a-rid-i-ties|
/əˈrɪdɪtiz/
(aridity)
extreme dryness
Etymology
'aridity' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'ariditas' (from 'aridus'), where 'aridus' meant 'dry' and the suffix '-itas' formed a noun meaning 'state or condition'.
'aridity' changed from Late Latin 'ariditas' (derived from Latin 'aridus') and entered English via scholarly/learned Latin usage, eventually becoming the modern English word 'aridity'.
Initially it meant 'dryness' (physical lack of moisture), but over time it also took on figurative senses of 'barrenness' or 'lack of interest/vitality'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the quality or state of being extremely dry; lack of moisture in climate or soil.
The aridities of the region make successful farming almost impossible without irrigation.
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Noun 2
figurative dryness or barrenness — a lack of interest, imagination, or vitality (e.g., of style, speech, or writing).
The aridities of his lecture left many students disengaged.
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Last updated: 2025/10/13 21:16