Crossword clue: drying; desiccative. -- n. (med.) a medicine or application for drying up a sore. wiseman.
1 answer found in Letterora's clue database (Wikidata facts, Open Trivia DB, WordNet and Webster definitions — all licensed sources).
Possible answers
a substance that promotes drying (e.g., calcium oxide absorbs water and is used to remove moisture)