The spelling of "vannest" is unusual and may cause confusion. The word is pronounced /ˈvænɪst/ and means "to become progressively drier". It is derived from the Middle English word "vaner" meaning "to become empty", which comes from the Old French word "veneer", meaning "to make void". The spelling of the word may seem counterintuitive, as the double "n" could lead one to pronounce it as "van-nest". However, the correct pronunciation is simply "van-est".