moist

== English == === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /mɔɪst/ Rhymes: -ɔɪst === Etymology 1 === The adjective is derived from Middle English moist, moiste [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman moist, moiste, moste, Middle French moiste, and Old French moiste, muste (“damp, moist, wet”) (modern French moite); further etymology uncertain, perhaps a blend of a Late Latin variant of Latin mūcidus (“mouldy, musty”) + a Late Latin derivative of Latin mustum (“unfermented or partially fermented grape juice or wine, must”). The noun is derived from the adjective. ==== Adjective ==== moist (comparative moister or more moist, superlative moistest or most moist) Characterized by the presence of moisture; not dry; slightly wet; damp. [from 14th c.] Synonyms: moisty; see also Thesaurus:wet Antonyms: unmoist; see also Thesaurus:dry Of eyes: wet with tears; tearful; also (obsolete), watery due to some illness or to old age. [from 14th c.] Synonyms: dewy-eyed, misty, teary, weepy, wet; see also Thesaurus:tearful Of a climate, the weather, etc.: damp, humid, rainy. [from 14th c.] Synonyms: dank; see also Thesaurus:muggy (informal) Of the vagina: sexually lubricated due to sexual arousal; of a woman: sexually aroused, turned on. [from 20th c.] Synonym: wet (medicine) Characterized by the presence of some fluid such as mucus, pus, etc. [from 14th c.] Of sounds of internal organs (especially as heard through a stethoscope): characterized by the sound of air bubbling through a fluid. (sciences, historical) Pertaining to one of the four essential qualities formerly believed to be present in all things, characterized by wetness; also, having a significant amount of this quality. [from 14th c.] (obsolete) Fluid, liquid, watery. [from 14th or earlier–17th c.] Synonyms: liquidlike; see also Thesaurus:fluidic (also poetic) Bringing moisture or rain. [a. 14th – 18th c.] ===== Usage notes ===== Moist is mostly used for agreeable or neutral conditions (for example, “moist cake”) while damp is mainly used for disagreeable conditions (“damp clothes”). ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Related terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Noun ==== moist (uncountable) (obsolete except US, regional) Moistness; also, moisture. ===== Derived terms ===== moistless (archaic) ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === From Middle English moisten, moist, moiste (“to make moist or wet; to soak in liquid; to become moist or wet; to provide with moisture or water; to satisfy thirst with liquor or water, slake”) [and other forms], and then either: from Anglo-Norman muster (“to make moist or wet”), Middle French moistir, and Old French moistir (“to make moist or wet; to become moist or wet”) (compare enmoistir; modern French moitir), from Old French moiste, muste (“damp, moist, wet”) (see etymology 1) + -ir (suffix forming infinitives of second conjugation verbs); or from Middle English moist, moiste (adjective) (see etymology 1), though the adjective is first attested later. ==== Verb ==== moist (third-person singular simple present moists, present participle moisting, simple past and past participle moisted) (transitive) (obsolete except UK, regional and US) To make (something) moist or wet; to moisten. Synonyms: dampen, enmoisten, hydrate, wet Antonyms: dehydrate, desiccate, dry, (obsolete) exiccate, exsiccate, parch (obsolete, figuratively) To inspire, to refresh (someone); also, to soften (one's heart). (intransitive) (US) To rain lightly; to drizzle. (obsolete) To have an effect of moistening or wetting. ===== Derived terms ===== moisted (adjective) moisting (adjective) (archaic, poetic) moisting (noun) (obsolete) ===== Translations ===== === References === === Anagrams === omits == Livonian == === Verb === moist Salaca form of mȯistõ (“to understand”) === References === Andreas Johan Sjögren, Ferdinand Johann Wiedemann (1861), Livisch-deutsches und deutsch-livisches Wörterbuch Pajusalu, Karl & Winkler, Eberhard, Salis-livisches Wörterbuch (2009). Eesti Teaduste Akadeemia. Tallinn. == Middle English == === Adjective === moist alternative form of moiste