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parch

/pɑɹt͡ʃ/ verb

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about parch at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. To burn the surface of, to scorch.
    The sun today could parch cement.
  2. To roast, as dry grain.
  3. To dry to extremity; to shrivel with heat.
    The patient’s mouth is parched from fever.

noun

  1. The condition of being parched.

Origin

From Middle English parchen, paarchen (“to parch; dry; roast”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps a variant of Middle English perchen (“to roast”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)