Bemoisten

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To wet or dampen something thoroughly until it is completely soaked through
2. To make an object or surface thoroughly damp, leaving it uniformly wet all over
3. Causing something to become fully moist by applying liquid to every part of it

Etymology: "Bemoisten" is a plain formation: the prefix be- attached to the verb "moisten." In Old English, be- was a productive prefix that could turn a verb or noun into a verb meaning "to cover or affect thoroughly with the thing named," which is the sense here. Its meaning is to dampen something all over, as when rain or spray soaks a surface from every side. The base word "moisten" is itself a derivative of "moist," which came into English from Old French "moiste," a word of uncertain origin. "Moisten" follows the common English pattern of adding the -en suffix to an adjective to make a verb meaning "to make that way." The be- prefix then adds the sense of thorough, all-over action, so the whole word means something like "moisten throughout."