Moisten
/ˈmɔɪsən/noun
To make something slightly wet or damp.
Did you know?Moisten comes from the same ancient root as moisture, and its history shows how English often turns a simple physical state into a spell-like action with just one suffix.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*meus-
“to be wet, damp”
Late Latin
Latin
mūstus
“fresh, new; unfermented, sweet wine”
Old French
Old French
moiste
“damp, moist”
Middle English
English
moisten
“to make moist or damp”
Modern English
English
moisten
“to make something slightly wet or damp”