moist
/mɔɪst/ adjective, noun, verb, proper noun
Forms moister moistest moists moisting moisted
- adjective Characterized by the presence of moisture; not dry; slightly wet; damp.
- adjective Of eyes: wet with tears; tearful; also (obsolete), watery due to some illness or to old age.
- adjective Of a climate, the weather, etc.: damp, humid, rainy.
- adjective (informal) Of the vagina: sexually lubricated due to sexual arousal; of a woman: sexually aroused, turned on.
- adjective Characterized by the presence of some fluid such as mucus, pus, etc.
- adjective Of sounds of internal organs (especially as heard through a stethoscope): characterized by the sound of air bubbling through a fluid.
- adjective (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.
- adjective Fluid, liquid, watery.
- noun (obsolete except US, regional) Moistness; also, moisture.
- verb (obsolete except UK, regional and US) To make (something) moist or wet; to moisten.
- verb (obsolete, figuratively) To inspire, to refresh (someone); also, to soften (one's heart).
- verb (US) To rain lightly; to drizzle.
- verb (obsolete) To have an effect of moistening or wetting.
- noun A follower of the religion of Moism.
- proper noun A surname.
Synonyms
moisty bewatered damp drenched dripping drunk humid irriguous madid overwatered plashy saturated soaked sodden soggy soppy spewy spongy squidgy thoan dampish
Antonyms
unmoist anhydrous arid bone dry droughty dry dry as a bone exsuccous parched sare sear sere
Etymology
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.
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.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Moderately wet; damp; humid; not dry; as, a moist atmosphere or air. "Moist eyes." Shak.
- adjective Fresh, or new. [Obs.] "Shoes full moist and new." "A draught of moist and corny ale." Chaucer.
- verb To moisten. [Obs.] Shak.
Etymology [OE. moiste, OF. moiste, F. moite, fr. L. muccidus, for mucidus, moldy, musty. Cf. Mucus, Mucid.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “moist”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details