humidity
UK[hjuːˈmɪdəti]US[hjuːˈmɪdəti]
n
the amount of water vapor present in the air.
n
dampness, especially of the air.
Morpheme Breakdown
humid
ity
humid
moist, wet
ity
Etymology
the word "humidity" traces its lineage directly to latin. the root "humid-" originates from the latin adjective humidus, meaning "moist" or "wet," which itself is derived from the verb humere, "to be moist." the suffix "-ity," from latin -itas, is a productive morpheme that transforms adjectives into abstract nouns denoting a state or quality. thus, the literal construction "humid-ity" logically yields the abstract noun meaning "the state or condition of being moist." this term was adopted into middle english via old french, specializing in scientific and meteorological contexts to refer specifically to the concentration of water vapor in the atmosphere.
Analysis
Structure: humid + ity
humid (from latin humid-, humidus meaning "moist, wet") + ity (from latin -itas, a noun-forming suffix indicating state or condition).
Examples
the high humidity made the summer heat feel even more oppressive.
a good dehumidifier can help control the humidity level in your basement.
coastal regions often experience higher humidity than inland areas.