Meanings
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1
verb
to make something slightly wet or damp
Moisten the cloth before wiping the screen.
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2
verb
to become slightly wet, especially when eyes fill with tears
Her eyes began to moisten as she read the letter.
Thesaurus
Etymology
Formed in English from moist + the verb-forming suffix -en, literally 'to make moist.' Moist entered Middle English through Old French moiste, probably from Latin mucidus 'moldy, musty' or a related form; its deeper history is uncertain.