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lan·guor

(lănggər, lăngər)

1. Lack of physical or mental energy; listlessness: "the languor of the men, induced by the heat" (Herman Melville). See Synonyms at lethargy.

2. A dreamy, lazy, or sensual quality, as of expression: "the clarity of her complexion, the length and languor of her eyelashes" (Jhumpa Lahiri).

3. Oppressive stillness, especially of the air: the languor of a hot July afternoon.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin, from languēre, to be languid; see LANGUISH.]

languor·ous adj.

languor·ous·ly adv.

languor·ous·ness n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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