What does vomitory mean?
Vomitory means causing vomiting and is therefore closely associated with an emetic, a substance used to induce vomiting. In figurative use, it can describe writing, speech, or behavior so unpleasant or excessive that it produces a feeling of nausea. The noun has two relatively uncommon meanings: an emetic itself, and a historical architectural term for a large opening or entrance in an ancient Roman theatre. These entrances were known as vomitoria, a Latin word whose imagery aptly suits the crowds moving through them. Modern usage of “vomitory” is largely formal, literary, or medical rather than everyday. It is worth knowing because it combines a literal physiological meaning with a vivid figurative one, while also preserving an unexpected connection to the architecture of ancient Rome. Its rarity does not make it obscure: the word remains precise and effective in descriptions of nauseating rhetoric, unpleasant experiences, or medicines designed to provoke vomiting.
Causing vomiting; emetic. Figuratively, so unpleasant as to evoke nausea.
"The report described the experience as a slow and thoroughly vomitory ordeal."
The literal sense is chiefly medical, while the figurative sense is formal and literary.
An emetic, or a substance that induces vomiting. Historically, a large opening or passage, especially an entrance to an ancient Roman theatre.
"The guide explained that the wide opening was one of the theatre's principal vomitories."
The noun is uncommon in modern general use, and its architectural meaning is chiefly historical.
The regular plural of the noun, most often encountered in discussions of ancient Roman theatre architecture.
"The excavation revealed two additional vomitories in the Roman theatre."
Ancient Roman theatres had great entrances called vomitoria, an architectural term whose vivid image evokes the crowds surging through them.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does vomitory come from?
Vomitory comes from Latin vomitorium, a place or passage for vomiting, derived from vomere, “to vomit.” Latin also had the adjective vomitorius, meaning “causing vomiting.” English borrowed the term by the late sixteenth century, and its historical theatre sense refers to the large entrances through which ancient Roman audiences moved.
Related word forms
How vomitory is actually used
The adjective is formal and chiefly literary or medical. The noun is uncommon in modern general use; its architectural sense is historical and refers especially to the prominent entrances of an ancient Roman theatre.
Easily confused with vomitory
Both words mean emetic, but “vomitory” is now chiefly literary or historical, whereas “vomitive” is the rarer and more explicitly archaic alternative.