Definition of languish

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< languid

languor >

lan·guish    (lnggwsh) KEY  

intr.v.
lan·guished , lan·guish·ing , lan·guish·es

1. To be or become weak or feeble; lose strength or vigor.
2. To exist or continue in miserable or disheartening conditions: languished away in prison.
3. To remain unattended or be neglected: legislation that continued to languish in committee.
4. To become downcast or pine away in longing: languish apart from friends and family; languish for a change from dull routine.
5. To affect a wistful or languid air, especially in order to gain sympathy.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English languishen, from Old French languir , languiss-, from Latin langure, to be languid; see slg- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
languish·er (Noun), languish·ing·ly (Adverb), languish·ment (Noun)

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