DRY

I. adjective (drier; also ~er; driest; also ~est) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ~̄ge; akin to Old High German truckan ~, Old English drēahnian to drain Date: before 12th century 1. free or relatively free from a liquid and especially water, not being in or under water , lacking precipitation or humidity , 2. characterized by exhaustion of a supply of liquid , devoid of running water , devoid of natural moisture , no longer sticky or damp , not giving milk , lacking freshness ; stale , anhydrous , 3. marked by the absence or scantiness of secretions , not shedding or accompanied by tears , involving no bloodshed or drowning , 5. marked by the absence of alcoholic beverages , prohibiting the manufacture or distribution of alcoholic beverages , served or eaten without butter or margarine , 7. lacking sweetness ; sec , having all or most sugar fermented to alcohol , 8. solid as opposed to liquid , reduced to powder or flakes ; dehydrated , functioning without lubrication , containing no recoverable hydrocarbon (as gasoline), requiring no liquid in preparation or operation , 12. not showing or communicating warmth, enthusiasm, or tender feeling ; severe , wearisome , uninteresting , lacking embellishment ; plain , 13. not yielding what is expected or desired ; unproductive , having no personal bias or emotional concern , reserved , aloof , marked by matter-of-fact, ironic, or terse manner of expression , lacking smooth sound qualities , being a ~ run , ~ish adjective drily or ~ly adverb ~ness noun II. verb (dried; ~ing) Date: before 12th century transitive verb to make ~, intransitive verb to become ~, ~able adjective III. noun (plural ~s) Date: 13th century the condition of being ~ ; ~ness, something ~, prohibitionist