Gregory Fodero
Definition: Very dry, deficient of moisture. Horticulture –characterized by or requiring only a small amount of moisture.
Pronunciation: ’zir-ik
Origin: From the Greek xēr (ksēros), meaning ‘dry’.
Why this word?
Aside from being just plain fun to say (try it a few times and you’ll see what I mean), xeric is a great word to keep in your Scrabble and Words with Friends repertoire as there aren’t that many words that begin with the letter X. Xeric is a relatively young word, first appearing in English literature in the late 1920’s. The Xerox Company derives its name from xerography, which comes from the two Greek roots meaning “dry writing” which was the early name for the process used in plain-paper copiers (using powdered toner instead of liquid ink). Horticulturally speaking, hydric, which is defined as requiring abundant moisture , is the antonym of xeric.
Xerically is the adverbial form of this word.
How would ‘Xeric’ be used in a sentence?
Xeric is an adjective used to describe something as very dry, or adapted to live in a dry environment.
“After hiking throughout the night, daybreak arrived and revealed the same xeric forest environment.”
“Aloe has proven to be one of the most commercially successful of the common species of xeric plants.”
