[des.ic.cate] vb -cat.ed ; -cat.ing [L desiccatus, pp. of desiccare to dry up, fr. de- + siccare to dry, fr. siccus dry--more at sack] vt (1575) 1: to dry up
2: to preserve (a food) by drying: dehydrate
3: to drain of emotional or intellectual vitality ~ vi: to become dried up -- des.ic.ca.tion n -- de.sic.ca.tive adj -- des.ic.ca.tor n