What does vapory mean?
Vapory is an adjective meaning full of vapor, misty, or suggestive of a soft, gaseous atmosphere. Its principal use is literary and poetic: writers apply it to skies, clouds, mountains, valleys, and other things made to seem hazy, diffuse, or immaterial. In this context, the word does more than state that vapor is present; it creates an impression of indistinctness, softness, and dreamlike distance. For example, a “vapory sky” suggests both atmospheric moisture and a scene whose outlines are partially concealed. Vapory is close in meaning to vaporous, but it has a more poetic and atmospheric register and is less common in ordinary speech. It should not be confused with the noun vapor, which names the gaseous substance itself. Although the word is uncommon, it remains useful to writers seeking language that is evocative without being excessively ornate.
adjectiveConsisting of, full of, or resembling vapor. In poetic usage, it often describes an atmosphere softened or obscured by mist.
- Consisting of, filled with, or saturated with vapor.
- Resembling vapor; soft, diffuse, or indistinct in appearance.
"A pale moon floated above the vapory mountains."
"The distant peaks faded into the vapory sky."
"A vapory haze obscured the road through the valley."
Vapory gives a poetic double effect: it describes a cloudlike atmosphere while making the language itself seem soft and vapor-filled.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of vapory
Vapory was formed in English by adding the adjectival suffix -y to vapor. Vapor entered English through Old French vapour from Latin vapor, meaning “steam” or “vapor.” The same Latin root underlies related forms such as vaporous, vaporize, and evaporate.
Related word forms
How vapory is actually used
Vapory is chiefly literary and poetic, especially in descriptions of landscapes, skies, and atmospheres. It is more deliberately evocative than the more common vaporous.
Easily confused with vapory
Vapor is the noun referring to a gaseous substance such as mist or steam, while vapory is an adjective describing something filled with or resembling vapor.