des·ic·cant

[des-i-kuhnt]
adjective
1.
desiccating or drying, as a medicine.
noun
2.
a desiccant substance or agent.

Origin:
1670–80; < Latin dēsiccant-, stem of dēsiccāns, present participle of dēsiccāre to dry up. See desiccate, -ant

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World English Dictionary
desiccant (ˈdɛsɪkənt) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  desiccating or drying
 
n
2.  a substance, such as calcium oxide, that absorbs water and is used to remove moisture; a drying agent
 
[C17: from Latin dēsiccāns drying up; see desiccate]

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00:10
Desiccant is a GRE word you need to know.
So is declamation. Does it mean:
soothing or mollifying, as a medicinal substance.
the act or art of declaiming.
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

desiccant des·ic·cant (děs'ĭ-kənt)
n.
A substance, such as calcium oxide or silica gel, that has a high affinity for water and is used as a drying agent. adj.
Causing or promoting dryness.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Example sentences
Water absorption is inevitably slower, though, whenever the desiccant is coated with or submerged in oil.
Silica gel is a desiccant, and the purpose of a desiccant is to absorb or adsorb gaseous water vapor.
Both sensible-only wheels and total energy wheels, sometimes referred to as
  desiccant wheels, are available.
The liquid desiccant waterfall, which serves as a design feature and provides
  humidity control.
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