arid

adj

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eHs- Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁yeti Proto-Indo-European *h₂eHs-eh₁yeti Proto-Italic *āzēō Latin āreō Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-der. Proto-Italic *-iðos Latin -idus Latin āriduslbor. French arideder. ▲ Latin āridusder. English arid From French aride or directly from Latin āridus (“dry, arid, parched”), compare its synonymous contracted form ardus. Originally from the verb āreo (“to be dry, to be parched”), akin to ārdeō (“to be on fire, to burn”).

1. Very dry.

   “The cake was arid.”

2. Describing a very dry climate. Typically defined as less than 25 cm or 10 inches of rainfall annually.

   “Deserts are known for being arid.”

   “And because this part of Utah is arid, the geologic landscape is fully revealed with very little vegetation to hide it, faults and all.”

3. Devoid of value.

   “The millionaire viewed his gift as arid.”

   “Such occupations might have seemed arid to those who did not possess the intellect to appreciate their subtleties.”