Moistnesse

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An archaic term for the state of being slightly wet or damp, with a trace of water or other liquid present
2. The condition of holding a small amount of water, often described as dampness that is noticeable but not soaking
3. A former spelling for the quality of something being mildly wet, as with dew, vapour, or a slightly soaked surface

Etymology: Moist" began as a word for new wine. The Latin "musteus" meant "fresh" or "new," and it came from "mustum," the unfermented juice pressed from grapes. It passed into Old French as "moiste," and English borrowed it in the Middle Ages with the sense of something damp or slightly wet. The surprise is how far the meaning travelled from the winepress. "Moistnesse" is a Middle English form of "moistness," built from "moist" and the native English suffix "-ness," which turns an adjective into a noun for a quality. The final "-e" is a spelling habit of the period, when many nouns and adjectives were written with it, and it does not change the meaning. The form is now obsolete, replaced by the modern "moistness."