adust

American  

[uh-duhst] / əˈdʌst /

adjective

1. dried or darkened as by heat.

2. burned; scorched.

3. Archaic. gloomy in appearance or mood.

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adust British  

/ əˈdʌst /

adjective

1. dried up or darkened by heat; burnt or scorched

2. gloomy or melancholy

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Etymology

Origin of adust

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin adustus (past participle of adūrere ), equivalent to ad- ad- + us- (base of ūrere to burn) + -tus past participle suffix

Example Sentences

It will also adust food court seating, shutter play areas and drinking fountains and restrict the number of sinks and urinals in restrooms.

From New York Times • Apr. 30, 2020

The culture in the field, once cordial and collaborative, became openly combative, as scientists adjusted to new norms of public critique while still struggling to adust to new standards of evidence.

From New York Times • Oct. 18, 2017

The sun rose high in the hard blue sky, and glared, as was his wont, upon the limitless pastures, dry and adust, the pale-hued, melancholy copses, the fast-falling river, the forgotten creeks.

From The Crooked Stick or Pollies's Probation by Boldrewood, Rolf

The jail contains all arts in act and trust;     Should you but hanker after surgeon’s skill,    ’Twill draw the spoiled blood from your veins adust.

From Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini by Symonds, John Addington

But the Rockvilles were each and all of this adust description.

From International Miscellany of Literature, Art and Science, Vol. 1, No. 3, Oct. 1, 1850 by Various