languish
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From the participle stem of Anglo-Norman and Middle French languir, from Late Latin languire, alteration of Latin languēre (“to be faint, unwell”). Compare languor.
Pronunciation [edit]
Verb [edit]
languish (third-person singular simple present languishes, present participle languishing, simple past and past participle languished)
- (intransitive) To lose strength and become weak; to be in a state of weakness or sickness. [from 14th c.]
- (intransitive) To pine away in longing for something; to have low spirits, especially from lovesickness. [from 14th c.]
- He languished without his girlfriend
- (intransitive) To live in miserable or disheartening conditions. [from 15th c.]
- He languished in prison for years
- (intransitive) To be neglected; to make little progress, be unsuccessful. [from 17th c.]
- The case languished for years before coming to trial.
- (transitive, obsolete) To make weak; to weaken, devastate. [15th-17th c.]
- (intransitive, now rare) To affect a languid air, especially disingenuously. [from 18th c.]
- 1815, Jane Austen, Emma:
- He is an excellent young man, and will suit Harriet exactly: it will be an "exactly so," as he says himself; but he does sigh and languish, and study for compliments rather more than I could endure as a principal.
- 1815, Jane Austen, Emma:
Related terms [edit]
Translations [edit]
to lose strength and become weak
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to pine away with longing
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to live in miserable conditions
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to be neglected, to make little progress
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