To dry out completely by removing all moisture, especially used in preserving plant and animal specimens.
From Latin 'exsiccare,' combining 'ex-' (thoroughly) with 'siccus' (dry), a term that entered English scientific vocabulary in the 18th century.
Botanists exsiccate plants to create herbarium specimens that can last hundreds of years—a properly exsiccated flower from 1800 can look nearly perfect today!
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