aridness
|ar-id-ness|
/ˈærɪdnəs/
extreme dryness
Etymology
'aridness' originates from English, specifically formed from the adjective 'arid' with the suffix '-ness'.
'arid' changed from the Latin word 'aridus' (from the verb 'arēre') and passed through Late Latin/Old French forms such as 'aride' before becoming the Middle/Modern English 'arid', after which English formed 'aridness'.
Initially, 'arid' meant 'dry' (physically dry), but over time it also acquired figurative senses of 'barren' or 'lacking in interest', which are reflected in the uses of 'aridness'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the quality or condition of being arid; extreme dryness, especially of land or climate.
The aridness of the desert made farming impossible.
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Noun 2
lack of interest, imagination, or vitality; figurative dullness or barrenness.
Critics complained about the aridness of the novel's prose.
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Last updated: 2025/09/09 17:25