languishing

[ lang-gwi-shing ]
/ ˈlæŋ gwɪ ʃɪŋ /

adjective

becoming languid, in any way.
expressive of languor; indicating tender, sentimental melancholy: a languishing sigh.
lingering: a languishing death.

Origin of languishing

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at languish, -ing2

OTHER WORDS FROM languishing

lan·guish·ing·ly, adverb half-lan·guish·ing, adjective un·lan·guish·ing, adjective

Definition for languishing (2 of 2)

languish
[ lang-gwish ]
/ ˈlæŋ gwɪʃ /

verb (used without object)

noun

the act or state of languishing.
a tender, melancholy look or expression.

Origin of languish

1250–1300; Middle English < Middle French languiss-, long stem of languir ≪ Latin languēre to languish; akin to laxus lax; see -ish2

OTHER WORDS FROM languish

lan·guish·er, noun

Example sentences from the Web for languishing

British Dictionary definitions for languishing

languish
/ (ˈlæŋɡwɪʃ) /

verb (intr)

to lose or diminish in strength or energy
(often foll by for) to be listless with desire; pine
to suffer deprivation, hardship, or neglect to languish in prison
to put on a tender, nostalgic, or melancholic expression

Derived forms of languish

languishing, adjective languishingly, adverb languishment, noun

Word Origin for languish

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