bemoisten

English

Alternative forms

• bemoysten (obsolete)

Etymology

be- +‎ moisten

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: bĭmoiʹsn, IPA^(key): /bɪˈmɔɪsn̩/

Verb

bemoisten (third-person singular simple present bemoistens, present participle bemoistening or (archaic or poetic) bemoist'ning, simple past and past participle bemoistened or (archaic or poetic) bemoisten'd)

1. (transitive) Make moist.
2. (intransitive, rare) Become moist.

Derived terms

• bemoistened (past participial adjective)

References

• “Bemoisten, v.” listed on page 794 of volume I (A–B) of A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles [1st ed., 1885]
    Bemoisten (bĭmoi·s’n), v. [f. Be- pref. 1, 2 + Moisten v.] Hence Bemoi·stened ppl. a. [¶] 1. trans. To make moist. [¶] 1590 Lodge Euphues’ Gold. Leg. in Halliw. Shaks. VI. 20 First time shall stay his staylesse race..And snow bemoysten Julies face. 1820 Combe (Dr. Syntax) Consol. vi. (D.) Wiping her bemoisten’d eye. [¶] 2. intr. To become moist. rare. [¶] 1821 Clare Vill. Minstr. I. 57 With tears the while bemoist’ning in his eye.
• “bemoisten, v.” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary [2nd ed., 1989]