vadose

adjective

va·​dose ˈvā-ˌdōs 

: of, relating to, or being water or solutions in the earth's crust above the permanent groundwater level

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin vadōsus "full of shallow spots, shallow," from vadum "shallow spot, ford" (akin to Old English wadan "to go, advance," Latin vādere "to advance, proceed") + -ōsus -ose entry 1 — more at wade entry 1

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above