desiccant
|des-si-cant|
/ˈdɛsɪkənt/
remove moisture
Etymology
'desiccant' originates from Latin, specifically the verb 'desiccare,' where 'de-' meant 'thoroughly' or 'completely' and 'siccare' meant 'to dry.'
'desiccant' entered English via Late Latin (present participle form related to 'desiccare') and through usage in scientific/technical contexts from the 17th–18th centuries to mean something that dries or removes moisture.
Initially it meant 'causing to dry' (the participial sense), and over time it has come to be used chiefly as a noun meaning 'a substance that removes moisture.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a substance that absorbs moisture from the air or surrounding environment, used to keep products dry (e.g., silica gel packets).
Place a desiccant packet in the box to keep the contents dry.
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Adjective 1
having the quality of removing moisture; causing drying or able to absorb moisture.
The desiccant properties of silica gel make it useful in packaging.
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Last updated: 2025/11/22 11:52