before a vowel xer-, repr. Gr. ξηρο-, ξηρ-, combining form of ξηρός dry, occurring in several scientific and technical terms. ǁ Xeroderma, -dermia Path. [mod.L., f. Gr. δέρμα skin], one of several diseases characterized by excessive dryness of the skin; hence Xerodermatic, -dermatous, -dermic adjs., pertaining to or characteristic of xeroderma. Xeroform Med. [after chloroform]: see quot. Xerophilous a. Bot. [Gr. -φιλος loving], adapted to a dry climate or habitat, or to conditions of scanty available moisture; so Xerophil(e, sb. a xerophilous plant; Xerophily, the condition or character of being xerophilous. Xerophyte, Bot. [Gr. φυτόν plant], a xerophilous plant (see above); so Xerophytic a., pertaining to or having the character of a xerophyte, xerophilous; Xerophytism, xerophytic character, xerophily. ǁ Xerostomia, Path. [mod.L., f. Gr. στόμα mouth], dryness of the mouth from insufficient secretion of saliva. Xerothermic a. [Gr. θερμός hot], dry and hot.
1848. Dunglison, Med. Lex. (ed. 7), *Xeroderma, diminution of secretion of the sebaceous glands.
1864. W. T. Fox, Skin Dis., viii. 222. True xeroderma is in reality the early stage of ichthyosis, a true epithelial disease.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 786. [Lichen pilaris] is only a part of a general xeroderma.
1913. Dorland, Med. Dict. (ed. 7), *Xerodermatic.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 851. The skin is dry and thin but not *xerodermatous.
1891. Cent. Dict., *Xerodermia, same as Xeroderma.
1899. [see XEROSIS].
1890. Retrospect Med., CII. 92. Minute white, gray, or red scaly *xerodermic prominences, having a hair in the centre.
1901. Dorland, Med. Dict. (ed. 2), *Xeroform, a yellow neutral powder derived from tribromphenol and bismuth, (C6H2Br3O)2 BiOH+Bi2O3: useful in the treatment of wounds, abscesses, etc., and as an intestinal antiseptic.
1884. Trans. Victoria Inst., 38. *Xerophiles—plants such as pertain to very dry climates.
1863. J. G. Baker, N. Yorksh., xxii. 316. The *Xerophilous and Maritime species [of mosses] are very few in number.
1893. Athenæum, 2 Dec., 774/3. A paper … by the Rev. G. Henslow ‘On the Origin of Plant Structures by Self-adaptation to the Environment, exemplified by Desert and Xerophilous Plants.’
1904. Science, 3 June, 866/2. The causes of *xerophily in bog plants.
1897. Willis, Flower. Pl. & Ferns, I. 178. In countries with long dry seasons [etc.]…, the plants … agree in having a lower rate of transpiration than plants living where there is plenty of available water. Plants of this kind are termed *xerophytes.
1906. G. Henslow, in 19th Cent., Nov., 801. E[uphorbia] Paralias is a xerophyte with coriaceous leaves, because it has adapted itself to a maritime situation in England.
1897. Willis, Flower. Pl. & Ferns, I. 185. No plants … can be regular epiphytes unless they possess well-marked *xerophytic characters, including as a rule the capacity for water-storage.
1900. Nature, 13 Dec., 150/1. Every one is aware how extremely intolerant of moisture are the cacti and some other xerophytic plants. Ibid., 15 Nov., 53/2. The stomatal grooves on the lower surface of the leaf [of Lepidodendron] suggest a xerophytic adaptation. Indications of *xerophytism are afforded by other anatomical characters in certain Palæozoic types.
1890. Billings, Nat. Med. Dict., *Xerostomia, dryness of the mouth.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., III. 310. The salivary and buccal secretions may be totally arrested as in cases of xerostomia.
1904. Bot. Gaz., April, 312 (Cent. Dict., Suppl.). Jerosch holds that an interglacial *xerothermic or steppe period has been proved by the facts of plant geography, paleontology, and geology.
