Pronunciation: [pˈe͡ɪpəɹi] (IPA) 
The word "papery" is spelled with an "e" after the letter "y" because the stress in the word is on the second syllable, /ˈpeɪpəri/. In English, when a word has a stress on the second-to-last syllable and ends in a consonant followed by "y," an "e" is often added to the end to indicate that the vowel in the previous syllable is pronounced as a long sound. "Papery" means thin and resembling paper in texture or appearance.
"Papery" is an adjective that describes the physical characteristics or qualities of an object, typically referring to its texture, appearance, or composition. The word is derived from "paper," which is a thin, lightweight material made from plant fibers and is commonly used for writing, printing, and packaging.
When applied to an object, "papery" signifies that it resembles or feels like paper in some way. It often suggests a thin and delicate nature, as if the item could easily be torn or crumpled, reminiscent of the fragility of paper. For instance, a papery leaf would have a thin, dry texture that is prone to crumbling or falling apart. Similarly, a papery fabric would be lightweight, airy, and might have a slightly crinkled appearance resembling creased paper.
In botanical terms, the term "papery" is often used to describe certain plant parts, such as petals, bracts, or fruit coverings, that have a thin, dry, and translucent texture similar to paper. It emphasizes the fragile nature of these structures and is commonly used to describe plants with delicate flowers or leaves, where these thin layers are easily damaged or crumbled.
Overall, when "papery" is used in describing objects, it conveys a sense of lightness, delicateness, and adaptability similar to that of paper.
Like paper; having the thinness and consistency of paper.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "papery" is derived from the noun "paper". The noun "paper" has its roots in the Latin word "papyrus", which refers to the plant (Cyperus papyrus) used by the ancient Egyptians to make a material similar to paper. The Latin word "papyrus" comes from the Greek word "papuros", which also refers to the papyrus plant. Over time, the Latin word "papyrus" transformed into "papier" in Old French, and eventually became "paper" in English. From "paper", the adjective "papery" was formed to describe something that resembles or is characteristic of paper.
