des·ic·ca·tive I. \ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌkā]d.]iv, -_kə], də̇ˈsikə], dēˈs-, ]t], ]ēv also ]əv\adjective Etymology: Late Latin desiccativus, from Latin desiccatus + -ivus -ive : drying up or tending to dry up < intense desiccative characteristics > II. noun (-s) archaic: a desiccative agent