Languish
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /ˈlæŋ.ɡwɪʃ/
- US IPA: /ˈleɪŋ.ɡwɪʃ/
- Rhymes: -æŋɡwɪʃ
Origin
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.
Full definition of languish
Verb
- (intransitive) To lose strength and become weak; to be in a state of weakness or sickness. from 14th c.
- Bible, 2 Esdras viii. 31We ... do languish of such diseases.
- (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, EmmaHe 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.