exsiccant

& s. [Lat. exsiccans, pr. par. of exsicco: ex =out, fully, and sicco to dry; siccus = dry.] A. As adj.: Having the quality or property of drying up or evaporating moisture. B. As subst.: A medicine or preparation which has drying properties. "Some are moderately moist, and require to be treated with medicines of the like nature, such as fleshy parts; others dry in themselves, yet require exsiccants , as bones."-Wiseman: Surgery, bk. vi., ch. v.