languish

[ lang-gwish ]

verb (used without object)

1. to be or become weak or feeble; droop; fade:

   Whether the plant thrives or languishes and dies is heavily dependent on the climate.

2. to lose vigor and vitality:

   Though she was once full of energy, her illness had caused her to languish.

3. to undergo neglect or experience prolonged inactivity; suffer hardship and distress:

   to languish in prison for ten years.

4. to be subjected to delay or disregard; be ignored:

   a petition that languished on the warden's desk for a year.

5. to pine with desire or longing.
6. to assume an expression of tender, sentimental melancholy.

noun

1. Archaic. the act or state of being neglected, losing vigor, or becoming weak.
2. Archaic. a tender, melancholy look or expression.

languish

/ ˈlæŋɡwɪʃ /

verb

1. to lose or diminish in strength or energy
2. often foll by for to be listless with desire; pine
3. to suffer deprivation, hardship, or neglect

   to languish in prison

4. to put on a tender, nostalgic, or melancholic expression

Derived Forms

• ˈlanguishingly, adverb
• ˈlanguishment, noun
• ˈlanguishing, adjective

Other Words From

• lan·guish·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of languish¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Middle French languiss-, long stem of languir, from Latin languēre “to languish”; akin to laxus lax; -ish ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of languish¹

C14 languishen, from Old French languiss-, stem of languir, ultimately from Latin languēre

Example Sentences

But he could languish the way Hernández and others did a year ago and end up with a short deal with a high average annual value.

From Los Angeles Times

Don’t let anything languish in there.

From Salon

A typical criminal defendant must languish behind bars for decades despite their innocence, but a defendant favored by this Supreme Court?

From Slate

"In the most extreme cases, patients languish behind closed doors with little or no support," it added.

From BBC

Critics accuse King Mswati, who rules by decree and has been on the throne for 38 years, of living in luxury with his polygamous household - while most of his people languish in poverty.

From BBC

Related Words

• deteriorate
• dwindle
• fail
• faint
• rot
• suffer
• weaken
• wither