Parchednesses refer to an extreme dryness or dehydration of a substance or place. The word parchednesses can also be replaced or used interchangeably with synonyms such as aridity, drought, dryness, thirstiness, and dehydration. Aridity describes a state of extreme dryness, especially in a place where there is little or no rainfall. Drought refers to a prolonged period of dry weather that causes crops to wither and die. Dryness is the state of being without moisture or water, while thirstiness describes the need for water as a result of one's body being in a dehydrated state. Finally, dehydration is a medical condition that occurs when there is a significant loss of body fluids.