Also 5–6 vapoure, 6– vapor, 6–7 vaper (7 vapr-). [f. prec., or ad. L. vapōrāre: cf. VAPORATE v.]
I. intr. To rise or ascend, to be emitted or diffused, in the form of vapor. Also with up and out.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. 3921. Þe bawme vapoureth vp a-lofte In-to þe eyre of þe erbes softe.
1614. T. Adams, in Spurgeon, Treas. David, I. 190. Thick spumy mists, which vapour up from the dark and foggy earth.
a. 1647. Habington, Surv. Worcs. (Worcs. Hist. Soc.), III. 544. Annoyed with the contagion vaporinge from the water.
1655. Culpepper, etc., Riverius, XV. iii. 410. Put it into a new glazed pot or pipkin, closed up … that nothing may vapor out.
1662. R. Mathew, Unl. Alch., 158. Lay this lute upon the edge of thy Funnel, which will bind fast the plate and the Funnel that nothing can vapor that way.
fig. 1839. Bailey, Festus, 154. Does not sin pour from my soul…. And, vapouring up before the face of God, Congregate there?
b. To pass away, to be dissipated, in the form vapor.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 357. To take such waters,… and … cause them to boyle and vapoure away vntyll the dregs or residence remayne in the bottome.
1594. R. Ashley, trans. Loys le Roy, 3. When the water is thickned, it seemes to become a stone…, when it vapoures away, to be breath or aire.
1605. Timme, Quersit., I. vii. 27. Whatsoeuer is aiery therein … by the force of the heat vapoureth away.
1658. A. Fox, Würtz’ Surg., IV. iii. 318. Mingle all these well together, lute the glass body, that nothing vapour away.
fig. 1638. Mayne, Lucian (1664), 71. Their whole life hath vapoured away in hopes.
1638. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 237. The first day vapors away in Tobacco, feasts, and other ordinary feastivalls.
1685. Baxter, Paraphr. N. T., 1 Cor. iv. 19. For all that Men call Learning and Wisdom … vapoureth away as Idleness and Vanity.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 133, ¶ 8. I expected that their exultation would in time vapour away.
c. To pass or be dissolved into a state of vapor or moisture. rare.
1567. Drant, Horace, Ep., xvii. F iij. Though he shoulde vaper into teares.
1640. Walton, Lives, Donne (1670), 77. In the last hour of his last day, as his body melted away and vapoured into spirit,… he said [etc.].
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), II. To Rdr. Words vanish soon, and vapour into Ayr.
2. trans. a. To cause to rise up or ascend in the form of vapor. Also fig.
c. 1407. Lydg., Reson & Sens., 454. Whan Phebus … on the herbes tendre and softe The bawmy dropes siluer fair Vapoured hath vp in the ayr.
1519. Interl. Four Elem. (Percy Soc.), 12. Therfore by hete it is vaporyd up lyghtly, and in the ayre makyth cloudys and mystes.
1530. Rastell, Bk. Purgat., II. xiii. Or ellys it wyll be vapoured up by the hete of the sonne.
1627. Donne, 5 Serm., 45. But every Man is vapor’d up into ayre, and as the ayre can bee thinkes he can fill any place.
1795. Blake, Bk. Ahania, Poet. Wks. (1914), 345. Effluvia vapour’d above In noxious clouds.
b. To cause to pass away in the form of vapor.
1460–70. Bk. Quintessence (1866), 9. Putte it into a uessel of glas in þe which be putt watir tofore,… and aftir do vapoure awey þe watir at þe fier.
1560. Whitehorne, Ord. Souldiours (1588), 26 b. It must be boyled so long, till all the thinne watrinesse be vapored away, and the substaunce of the salt peter thickned.
a. 1626. Bacon, Med. Rem., Baconiana (1679), 160. Then upon a gentle heat vapour away all the Spirit of Wine.
1662. R. Mathew, Unl. Alch., 174. In a clean glass Vessel vapor all the Vinegar away.
fig. a. 1600. Donne, The Expiration, 2. So, so, breake off this last lamenting kisse, Which sucks two soules, and vapors Both away.
c. With out or forth: To evaporate.
1530. Rastell, Bk. Purgat., III. vii. The temperate eyer wyll … vapour out the tartnes & sowernes of that humour.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 23. Opium leeseth some of his poisonous Quallity, if it be vapoured out, mingled with Spirit of Wine, or the like.
1638. Rawley, trans. Bacon’s Life & Death (1650), 28. In Dissipating Medecines, some vapour forth the thinne part of the Tumours.
1674. Govt. Tongue, 134. If he … call me dull, because I vapor not out all my spirits into froth.
d. To convert into vapor. Chiefly with to.
1591. Spenser, Ruines Time, 219. He now is dead, and all his glorie gone, And all his greatnes vapoured to nought.
1603. J. Davies (Heref.), Microcosmos, Wks. (Grosart), I. 87/1. Thy souls but a Blast, That with thy Breath is vapored to nought.
1665. Phil. Trans., I. 36. With more of the same Dew … vapoured to siccity.
a. 1814. Forgery, II. iv., in New Brit. Theatre, I. 453. Ev’n the hot potent wine, Whose power only but a short time since Flatter’d my brain, is vapor’d all in air.
1888. Doughty, Trav. Arabia Deserta, I. 79. If there runs in any water, within a while it will be vapoured to the dregs.
† 3. To send forth, out, or up, to emit or discharge, to disperse, etc., in the form of vapor. Obs.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, II. cxiv. (1869), 117. I haue a special horn bi which j caste and vapoure out the wynd that j haue in my bodi.
1563. Hyll, Art Garden. (1593), 5. Consider also the nature of the Mote…, whether the same sendeth or vapoureth forth … noisome or stinking aire.
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. CXLVI. ii. His strength is none, if any in his breath; Which vapor’d foorth to mother earth he goes.
1628. Wither, Brit. Rememb., II. 49. Ev’n when the peoples thronging, and their heat Did vapour up their breathings and their sweat, For him to swallow.
1656. [? J. Sergeant], trans. T. White’s Peripat. Inst., 126. The clouds of ashes (vapour’d out in Vast abundance).
fig. 1592. Daniel, Compl. Rosamond, 803. With armes a-crosse, and eyes to heauen bended, Vaporing out sighs that to the skies ascended.
1634. Sir T. Hawkins, Pol. Observ., 7. He with all his might vapoured forth the smoke of his greatnesse.
1657. R. Ligon, Barbadoes, 36. He vapours out the grievousest sighs.
b. absol. To emit vapor.
1552. Huloet, Vapouren or cast out vapoures, halito.
1650. Ashmole, Chym. Collect., iv. 51. Our Fire is Minerall, and vapours not, unlesse it be too much stirred up.
4. a. To expose to the moistening effect of vapor, rare–1.
1545. Raynald, Byrth Mankynde, 100. The matryce … must be annoynted, perfumed, and vapored with suche thynges, the whiche maye make it more ample and large.
b. To make dim or obscure with vapor.
1875. Blackmore, Alice Lorraine, I. 150. One of those sudden changes, which (at less than a breath) vapour the glass of the feminine mind.
5. intr. To use language as light or unsubstantial as vapor; to talk fantastically, grandiloquently, or boastingly; to brag or bluster.
1628. Ford, Lover’s Mel., IV. ii. He vapours like a tinker, and struts like a juggler.
1649. Milton, Eikon., 145. Poets indeed use to vapor much after this manner.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., II. 180. He would suffer no body to say any thing to him, and to hear him vapour, there was no Man greater than he.
1700. S. L., trans. Fryke’s Voy. E. Ind., 160. He vapour’d and call’d me all the Cowards he could think of.
1760. Cautions & Adv. to Officers Army, 12. I have heard so many young Officers, vaporing and wishing to meet an Enemy.
1812. Combe, Syntax, Picturesque, IV. Dear Mrs. Syntax, how she’d vapour, Were she to read this curious paper!
1859. W. Collins, Q. of Hearts (1875), 52. You may imagine what a passion I was in when I vapoured and blustered in that way.
1884. Pall Mall G., 13 March, 1/1. Lord Salisbury has vapoured a good deal and brandished his painted sword of lath.
b. Const. about, of, or with.
(a) 1654. trans. Scudery’s Curia Pol., 37. To strike a terrour into those who have vapoured of their owne insolencie.
1677. W. Hubbard, Narrative, 50. Yet could the Messenger hardly forbear threatning, vapouring of their numbers and strength.
a. 1680. Butler, Rem. (1759), II. 36. The Wealth of his Party, of which he vapours so much,… is no mean Motive to enflame his Zeal.
1789. J. Moore, Zeluco (1797), II. lxvii. 178. Some of his friends were imprudent enough to vapour a little about his determination of calling Carlostein to account.
1820. Hazlitt, Table-T., Ser. II. xvii. (1869), 345. Strutting and vapouring about his own pretensions.
1864. Thackeray, D. Duval, v. (1869), 65. I was … vapouring about what we would do, were we attacked.
1897. ‘O. Rhoscomyl,’ White Rose Arno, 185. Those dear Countesses of whom you were forever vapouring.
(b) 1675. Char. Town-Gallant (Hindley, 1872), II. 4. He … stayed at the University long enough to … get by heart the name of his College to vapour with.
1699. Bentley, Phal., 332. His Scylax, that he lately vapour’d with.
1876. J. Weiss, Wit, Hum. & Shaks., vi. 200. The words and style which mariners and travellers brought home to vapor with to eager listeners in the taverns.
c. trans. To declare or assert in a boasting or grandiloquent manner. Also, in later use, with forth or away.
1658. F. Osborne, Trad. Mem. K. James, Wks. (1673), 470. That … vapoured he would … bring him in by the Sword.
1665. Winstanley, Loy. Martyrol., 11. An unanswerable Work, of which they will never clear themselves, brag and vapour what they please.
c. 1665. Mrs. Hutchinson, Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1806), 236. Plumtre … began to vapour that he would have the castle pull’d downe.
1692. Bp. Patrick, Answ. Touchstone, 258. Neither he, nor any one else (whatsoever he vapours) dare break in pieces, or tear a Crucifix, or Picture.
a. 1732. Swift, Sandys’ Ghost, xix. To poor Ovid shall befall … A metamorphosis more strange Than all his books can vapour.
1755. Warburton, Apol. for two first Lett., Wks. 1788, VII. 572. Pope gave easy credit to him, when he vapoured that he would demonstrate all the common Metaphysics to be wicked and abominable.
1848. Kingsley, Saint’s Trag., IV. i. Where are the high-flown fancies Which but last week … You vapoured forth?
a. 1872. Maurice, Friendsh. Bks. (1874), x. 279. Vapouring away patriotism is undoubtedly a very bad thing.
d. To force (a person) into or out of something, to put down, by talking big.
1654. Whitelocke, Swed. Ambassy (1772), I. 158. Who was not to be vapoured or threatened into a conformity to their desires.
1665. Glanvill, Scepsis Sci., Addr. p. v. That might not therefore be vapour’d down by insignificant Testimonies.
1829. T. L. Peacock, Misfort. Elphin., ix. I am not to be sung, or cajoled, or vapoured, or bullied out of my prisoner.
6. To act in a fantastic or ostentations manner; to show off; to swagger; to walk in with a swaggering air.
1652. C. B. Stapylton, Herodian, 127. With Pipe and Flute full often here he vapors, And round about the Altar frisks and Capers.
a. 1720. Sewel, Hist. Quakers (1795), I. I. 56. Some men have the nature of an horse, to prance and vapour in their strength.
1724. Ramsay, Tea-t. Misc. (1733), I. 89. Wow but ye will be vap’ring Whene’er ye gang to the town.
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., xxi. When you mean to vapour with your hanger and your dram-cup in support of treasonable toasts.
1842. Borrow, Bible in Spain, xl. They … would gaze with admiring eyes upon the robbers vapouring about in the court below.
1898. J. Meade Falkner, Moonfleet, vi. In vapours Maskew, and with an angry glance about him makes straight for the desk.
7. trans. † a. To affect with fantastic ideas. Obs.
1698. Collier, Immor. Stage, iv. § 3 (1730), 139. He was formal and fantastick, smitten with Dress and Equipage, and it may be vapour’d by his Perfumes.
b. To give (one) the vapours; to depress or bore.
1774. Berridge, Lett., xv. (1864), 386. At times, when I am very low, a letter that demands a speedy answer will vapour me as much as a large bill requiring prompt payment would a sinking tradesman.
1779. Sylph, I. 24. I shall be vapoured to death if I stay here much longer.
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, III. 85. She has lost all her sprightliness, and vapours me but to look at her.
1804. Something Odd, I. 216. His low spirits, which are indeed so very bad at times, as to bore and vapour one to death.
c. intr. To get the vapours. rare–1.
1802. Marian Moore, Lascelles, I. 19. The evenings are so long, that I declare I vapour every time they come for want of something else to do.
