Good conductors are opaque to Hertzian waves; in other words, are non-absorptive.
"Hertzian Wave Wireless Telegraphy"
John Ambrose Fleming
It is not so important, however, as the absorptive power of the road itself, for if a road holds much water the destruction wrought by frost is very great.
"The Future of Road-making in America"
Archer Butler Hulbert
Practice methods that make soils absorptive of moisture and permit escape of excess water.
"A Living from the Land"
William B. Duryee