'desiccative' originates from Latin, specifically from the Late Latin verb 'desiccare' (past participle 'desiccatus'), where the prefix 'de-' meant 'away' and 'siccare' (from 'siccus') meant 'to dry'.

'desiccative' is formed in English from the verb 'desiccate' (borrowed via Medieval/Neo-Latin 'desiccare' and related forms) combined with the adjectival suffix '-ive'; the root concept passed through Late Latin (desiccatus) and influence from French forms (e.g. 'dessécher') before stabilizing in modern English.

Initially, related forms meant 'to dry up' or 'to remove moisture'; over time the meaning expanded to describe both the action and anything that causes drying (i.e., an agent or characteristic that produces dryness), which is the modern sense.