I mess about at sea — getting dry? (10)

I believe the answer is:

abstemious

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'dry?' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'i mess about at sea' is the wordplay.
'at sea' indicates an anagram.
'i'+'mess'+'about'='imessabout'
'imessabout' is an anagram of 'ABSTEMIOUS'.

'getting' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for abstemious that I've seen before include "Temperate" , "I mess about (anag.)" , "in a way that's restrained" , "Indulging only moderately (in food/drink)" , "not eating or drinking a lot" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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