sere
UK: sɪə | US: sɪr
adj. dry or withered (especially of vegetation or climate)
adj. archaic term for "dried up" or "parched"
The word "sere" originates from Old English sēar, meaning "dry" or "withered," which is related to the Proto-Germanic sauzaz. It shares roots with the Dutch zoor (dry) and the German sorr (withered). Over time, "sere" evolved to describe arid landscapes or desiccated vegetation, often used poetically or in ecological contexts. Its simplicity reflects its ancient Germanic heritage, retaining a monosyllabic form without prefixes or suffixes.
The sere leaves crumbled to dust at the slightest touch.
After months of drought, the fields lay sere and barren.
The desert stretched endlessly, a sere expanse under the blazing sun.
In autumn, the sere grasses whispered in the wind.
The ancient tome's pages were sere and brittle with age.