parched
UK: pɑːtʃt | US: pɑːrtʃt
adj. extremely dry, especially due to hot weather
adj. very thirsty
vt. (past tense of parch) to make something extremely dry
The word parch originates from Middle English parchen, likely derived from Old French percher (to dry thoroughly) or Vulgar Latin particāre, related to Latin per- (thoroughly) + torrēre (to dry). The suffix -ed marks the past participle form, turning the verb into an adjective. Over time, parched evolved to describe both objects (e.g., land) and people (extreme thirst), emphasizing complete dryness.
The parched soil cracked under the scorching sun.
After hiking for hours, I felt utterly parched and craved water.
The desert wind parched their lips and skin.
Farmers worried about their parched crops during the drought.
She gulped down the water, her throat parched from speaking all day.