English · Word Candidate

moist

/mɔɪst/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: moister · moistest · moists · moisting

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Characterized by the presence of moisture; not dry; slightly wet; damp.

Adjective

Examples

Will theſe moyſt Trees, / That haue out-liu'd the Eagle, page thy heeles / And skip when thou point'ſt out?

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Of eyes: wet with tears; tearful; also (obsolete), watery due to some illness or to old age.

Adjective

Examples

[H]aue you not a moiſt eie, a dry hand, a yelow cheeke, a white beard, a decreaſing leg, an increaſing belly? […] and will you yet call your ſelfe yong? fie, fie, fie, ſir Iohn.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

Moistness; also, moisture.

Noun

Examples

[T]hey launch'd the ship, the mast it bore / Advanc'd, sails hoised, every seat his oar / Gave with a leather thong. The deep moist then / They further reach'd.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

To make (something) moist or wet; to moisten.

VerbRegister: US

Examples

He calleth for a ſponge (ſaith Theodoritus) and therevvith moiſteth and vvaſsheth Simeones mouthe, and then geueth him the holy Sacrament.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “moist” mean?

Characterized by the presence of moisture; not dry; slightly wet; damp.

Is “moist” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.