Main Entry:

lan·guish

Pronunciation:

\ˈlaŋ-gwish\

Function:

intransitive verb

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French languiss-, stem of languir, from Vulgar Latin *languire, from Latin languēre

Date:

14th century

1 a: to be or become feeble, weak, or enervated b: to be or live in a state of depression or decreasing vitality2 a: to become dispirited b: to suffer neglect <the bill languished in the Senate for eight months>3: to assume an expression of grief or emotion appealing for sympathy

— lan·guish·er noun

— lan·guish·ing·ly \-gwi-shiŋ-lē\ adverb

— lan·guish·ment \-gwish-mənt\ noun