powdery
UK: ˈpaʊdəri | US: ˈpaʊdəri
adj. resembling or consisting of fine, dry particles
adj. covered or dusted with powder
adj. having a soft, crumbly texture
The word "powdery" derives from the noun "powder" (Middle English spelling of "powder"), which originated from Old French "poudre," meaning "dust" or "ashes." This, in turn, traces back to Latin "pulvis," meaning "dust." The suffix "-y" is a productive English adjective-forming suffix, indicating "characterized by" or "resembling." Thus, "powdery" literally means "having the qualities of powder." The evolution reflects a straightforward morphological extension from a concrete noun to a descriptive adjective.
The baker dusted the cake with powdery sugar.
Her hands were covered in a powdery residue after handling the chalk.
The snow had a light, powdery texture perfect for skiing.
The old book left a powdery film on the shelf.
The butterfly’s wings left a faint powdery mark on his fingers.