- causing or promoting absorption of moisture; drying.
- a siccative substance, especially in paint.
Origin of siccative
Examples from the Web for siccative
Sulphate of zinc, as a siccative, is less powerful than acetate of lead, but is far preferable in a chemical sense.
Hence, although the employment of lead as a siccative is not desirable, its effects are not so deleterious as might be imagined.
In his researches, he discovered the use of linseed and nut oil, which he found most siccative.
- a substance added to a liquid to promote drying: used in paints and some medicines
Word Origin and History for siccative
1540s, from Late Latin siccativus "drying, siccative," from Latin siccatus, past participle of siccare "to dry, make dry; dry up," from siccus "dry, thirsty; without rain," from PIE root *seikw- "to flow out" (cf. Avestan hiku- "dry," Greek iskhnos "dry, withered," Lithuanian seklus "shallow," Middle Irish sesc "dry," Sanskrit sincati "makes dry"). The noun is first recorded 1825.
- A substance added to some medicines to promote drying; a drier.