v.intr. 1 a be slow or reluctant to depart. b stay about. c (foll. by over, on, etc.) dally (lingered over dinner; lingered on what they said). 2 (esp. of an illness) be protracted. 3 (foll. by on) (of a dying person or custom) be slow in dying; drag on feebly. lingerer n. lingeringly adv.
[ ME lenger, frequent. of leng f. OE lengan f. Gmc, rel. to LENGTHEN ]