limbo

¹

[ lim-boh ]

noun

, plural lim·bos.

1. (often initial capital letter) Roman Catholic Theology. a region on the border of hell or heaven, serving as the abode after death of unbaptized infants limbo of infants and of the righteous who died before the coming of Christ limbo of the fathers, or limbo of the patriarchs.
2. a place or state of oblivion to which persons or things are regarded as being relegated when cast aside, forgotten, past, or out of date:

   My youthful hopes are in the limbo of lost dreams.

3. an intermediate, transitional, or midway state or place.
4. a place or state of imprisonment or confinement.

limbo

²

[ lim-boh ]

noun

, plural lim·bos.

1. a dance from the West Indies, originally for men only, in which the dancer bends backward from the knees and moves with a shuffling step under a horizontal bar that is lowered after each successive pass.

limbo

¹

/ ˈlɪmbəʊ /

noun

1. often capital RC Church the supposed abode of infants dying without baptism and the just who died before Christ
2. an imaginary place for lost, forgotten, or unwanted persons or things
3. an unknown intermediate place or condition between two extremes

   in limbo

4. a prison or confinement

limbo

²

/ ˈlɪmbəʊ /

noun

1. a Caribbean dance in which dancers pass, while leaning backwards, under a bar

limbo

1. In the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church regarding the afterlife, the condition of innocent persons who die without benefit of baptism ; those in limbo do not suffer damnation , but they do not enjoy the presence of God. Limbo means “a bordering place.”

Notes

Figuratively, “limbo” is a state of nonresolution or uncertainty: “Until he receives notice of his new posting, he'll be in limbo.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of limbo¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Medieval Latin phrase in limbō “on hell's border” ( Latin: “on the edge”), from Latin in “in, on” + limbō, ablative of limbus “edge, border”

Origin of limbo²

First recorded in 1955–60; of disputed origin; perhaps compare Jamaican English limba “to bend; easily bending”; limber ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of limbo¹

C14: from Medieval Latin in limbo on the border (of hell)

Origin of limbo²

C20: origin uncertain

Idioms and Phrases

see in limbo .

Example Sentences

The Conservative government left the courts in financial limbo until June because it failed to settle their funding, the most senior judge in England and Wales has told MPs.

From BBC

Trump’s return to the White House has left several of the criminal cases against him in limbo.

From BBC

He told the BBC it was costing the Sudanese charity for the shipping container to be sitting in "limbo" and puts them at risk of closing.

From BBC

Cancelling TPS, he said, will only place many holders in limbo without work authorization or immediate relief, making it harder for them to provide for themselves and their families.

From Salon

The report has been in limbo since Gaetz's rapid resignation following his nomination to lead the Department of Justice.

From Salon

Related Words

• oblivion