languor
UK: ˈlaŋɡə | US: ˈlæŋɡər
n. a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy
n. a pleasant feeling of laziness or relaxation
n. oppressive stillness or heaviness (e.g., of air)
languor = langu<weaken, droop> + or<noun suffix>
- langu (from Latin languere, meaning "to be weak or faint")
- or (a noun-forming suffix indicating a state or condition, from Latin -or)
Etymology Origin:
The word "languor" traces back to Latin languor, derived from languere ("to be weak or listless"). It entered Middle English via Old French languor, retaining its core sense of weariness or inertia. The root langu- evokes imagery of drooping or fading strength, while the suffix -or solidifies it as a noun describing a state. Over time, "languor" gained poetic connotations of dreamy relaxation, often linked to warm, stifling environments.
The heat of the afternoon cast a deep languor over the village.
She sighed with languor, too tired to move from the hammock.
His illness left him in a state of prolonged languor.
The languor of the tropical air made even breathing feel laborious.
There was a strange beauty in the languor of her movements.