moistifyv.
/ˈmɔɪstᵻfʌɪ/, U.S. /ˈmɔɪstəˌfaɪ/, Scottish English /ˈmɔɪstᵻfaɪ/ Chiefly Scottish.
transitive. To moisten (a thing). Usually humorous: to wet (the lips, throat, etc.) with drink; = moisten v. 2b. to moistify one's clay: = to moisten one's clay at clay n. 4b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > condition of being or making wet > condition of being slightly wet > make slightly wet [verb (transitive)]
aliec1330
humidatec1540
bemoist1567
bemoisten1590
rigate1657
damp1671
deg1673
moistify1786
dampen1827
baste1897
1786 R. Burns Poems 39 Tho' whyles ye moistify your leather.
1807 J. Ruickbie Wayside Cottager 186 A whisky soss To moistify your middle.
a1842 W. Maginn Song in Praise of Wastle & North in Miscellanies (1885) I. 163 Still be it his with vigour to recruit His toil-worn frame, and moistify his clay With—any potent dram his taste will suit.
1862 A. Hislop Prov. Scotl. 263 Some are gay drouthy, but ye're aye moistified.
1882 J. Walker Descr. Jaunt to Auld Reekie 87 [They] moistified their drouthy clay Wi rousin brandy-whitters O' punch.
Derivatives
ˈmoistifying adj.
ΚΠ
1840 F. Trollope Widow Married xxix The ladies taught her how to arrange a ‘spit-curl’, so as to defy the moistifying effects of the climate.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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