aridnesses
|ar-id-ness-es|
/ˈærɪdnəs/
(aridness)
extreme dryness
Etymology
'aridness' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'aridus', where the root 'arere' meant 'to be dry'.
'aridness' developed from the adjective 'arid', which came into English via Middle English from Latin 'aridus' (from 'arere' 'to be dry').
Initially, it meant 'dry' or 'relating to dryness'; over time it evolved to denote the 'state or quality of dryness' and, figuratively, 'sterility or dullness'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the quality or state of being arid; extreme dryness, especially of climate, soil, or environment.
Aridnesses across the region made traditional farming methods impossible.
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Noun 2
figurative lack of interest, imagination, or vitality; sterility or dullness.
The aridnesses of several chapters left readers complaining about the book's dullness.
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Last updated: 2025/10/13 21:58