HUMIDITY

, or moisture, the power or quality of wetting or moistening other bodies, and adhering to them.

Fluids are moist to some bodies, and not to others. Thus, quicksilver is not moist in respect to our hands or clothes, and other things, which it will not stick to; but it may be called Humid in reference to gold, tin, or lead, to the surfaces of which it will presently adhere, and render them soft and moist. Even water itself, which wets almost every thing, and is the great standard of moisture and Humidity, is not capable of wetting all things; for it stands or runs off in globular drops from any thing greased or oiled, or the leaves of cabbages, and many other planets; and it will not wet the feathers of ducks, geese, swans, and other water-fowl.