humectation

Latin humectatio: compare French humectation.

humectation (countable and uncountable, plural humectations)

1. moistening.
   • 1649, Ambrose Parey, Thomas Johnson (trans.), The Workes of that Famous Chirurgion Ambrose Parey, page 55, London: Richard Cotes and Willi Du-gard OCLC 13170477

     The cure of such an effect must be performed by two means, that is, evacuation and cooling with humectation.

   • 1658, Sir Thomas Brown, Pseudodoxia Epidemica, London: Edward Dod OCLC 216753971

     That which is concreted by exsiccation or expression of humidity, will be resolved by humectification, as earth, dirt and clay.

   • 1730, Francis Bacon, The Works of Francis Bacon, volume 3, page 180, London: Impensis R. OCLC 13621903

     It hath been observed by the ancients, that plates of metal, and especially of brass, applied presently to a blow, will keep it down from swelling. The cause is repercussion, without humectiation, or entrance of any body.

   • 2005, M. Ghrab, K. Gargouri, M. Ayadi, H. Bentaher, “Water saving in olive orchids: root-zone drying strategy”, in A. Bari, editor, Assessment of Plant Genetic Resources for Water-use Efficiency, Bioversity International, →ISBN, page 36:

     Thereafter, humectation of soil was recorded in the autumn, following rains.

   • 2009, Steve Capellini, The Complete Spa Book for Massage Therapists, Cengage Learning, →ISBN:

     Emollients are useful in spa services because of their three main properties: occlusion, lubrication, and humectation.

   • 2011, Samuel Boyd, Angela Maria Gutierrez, James P. McCulley, Atlas and Text of Corneal Pathology and Surgery, Jaypee Brothers, →ISBN:

     Substitutive treatment (artificial tears) is the most useful medication. It tries to recover for a short time the humectation, osmolarity and lubrication of the ocular surface, although the etiologic causes persist.

• “humectation”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.