Linger
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -ɪŋɡə(r)
Origin
From Middle English lenger, lengeren, frequentative of lengen, from Old English lengan, from Proto-Germanic *langijanÄ… (compare Dutch lengen, German lungern), probably related to the root of long.
Full definition of linger
Verb
- (intransitive) To stay or remain in a place or situation, especially as if unwilling to depart or not easily able to do so.
- 1859, Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, ch. 15:His tone lingered in the air, almost like the tone of a musical instrument.
- 1891, Edith Wharton, "Mrs. Manstey's View":She lingered in the window.
- 2011 April 25, Alice Park, "Upgrading the Disaster," Time:It takes into account . . . predictions of how long radioactive contaminants will linger in the soil and water near the nuclear facility.
- (intransitive) To remain alive or existent although still proceeding toward death or extinction; to die gradually.
- 1887, Thomas Hardy, The Woodlanders, ch. 14:He lingered through the day, and died that evening as the sun went down.
- 1904, Andrew Lang, "Asmund and Signy" in The Brown Fairy Book:During his absence the queen fell ill, and after lingering for some time she died.
- (intransitive, often followed by on) To consider or contemplate for a period of time; to engage in analytical thinking or discussion.
- 2011 April 14, Michael Scherer, "Trump's Political Reality Show: Will the Donald Really Run for President?," Time:Trump doesn't linger on the poll.