WordGarden.iolanguor
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /lˈæŋɡjuːə/
US
Meanings
Noun
a dreamy, relaxed lack of energy in mood, movement, or atmosphere
physical weakness, listlessness, or weariness
Beyond the definition
Imagine lying in a hammock on a hot summer afternoon, barely able to lift a finger. That slow, heavy feeling of tiredness and low energy is languor. It is more than simple fatigue; it suggests a dreamy or drained state that makes action feel difficult. You might feel it in the heat, after a large meal, during a long period of doing nothing, or after emotional strain.
The word often appears in literature describing heat, stillness, beauty, illness, or emotional weariness. Think of the feeling that settles over someone after heartbreak, or the sleepy atmosphere of a sweltering afternoon. Writers often use it to create a slow, soft, faded mood.
Languor describes a state of dreamy idleness, listlessness, and pleasant exhaustion. It's not simply being tired—though tiredness is often part of it—but rather a feeling of gentle weakness that makes you reluctant to exert yourself. Think of the way heat can weigh down your limbs, or the slow, hazy feeling after a long, satisfying meal.
Historically, languor was associated with physical illness and even romantic melancholy. It suggested a kind of delicate frailty, often seen as attractive in literature. Today, it's more commonly used to describe a temporary state of relaxed exhaustion—perhaps from overindulgence, boredom, or simply the heat.
You might read about "the languor of summer afternoons," describing the slow pace and sleepy atmosphere. Or you could say someone is overcome with "a sense of languor" after receiving disappointing news. It's a word that evokes a feeling of gentle surrender to stillness and inactivity. Languor isn't necessarily negative; it can be a welcome respite from the demands of daily life, a moment to simply be.
So, if you find yourself drifting into a state of peaceful exhaustion, savoring the quiet and resisting any urge to move—you're experiencing languor.
Examples
- 1
Warm room
After lunch, a warm languor settled over the room.
- Usage
Often used in literary descriptions rather than casual speech.
- 2
Summer mood
She lay in the grass, enjoying the gentle languor of a summer afternoon.
- 3
Physical weakness
The illness left him with a heavy languor that made even short walks difficult.
- 4
Literary style
The novel moves slowly, with a dreamy languor that matches its seaside setting.
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- languornoun
Forms
- languorspluralnoun