I. ˈlaŋgwə̇d, ˈlaiŋ- adjective
Etymology: Middle French languide, from Latin languidus, from languēre to languish, be languid — more at slack
1. : drooping or flagging from or as if from exhaustion : lacking vigor : weak
arms too languid with happiness to embrace him — John Galsworthy
2. : sluggish in character or disposition : dull , listless
languid enjoyment of the daydream — Nathaniel Hawthorne
stretched out a languid hand — Dorothy Sayers
3. : lacking force or vividness : slow
heard … in a moment of exhausted or languid interest — A.T.Quiller-Couch
contrast between his huge bulk and his languid , almost effeminate, demeanor — Robert Hichens
Synonyms:
languishing , languorous , lackadaisical , listless , spiritless , enervated : languid may indicate an inability or indisposition to exert or concern oneself owing to weakness, malaise, or ennui
she turned and walked from the room with languid deliberate steps; her air was curiously apathetic, and she moved as though she were intolerably weary — Elinor Wylie
struck by something languid and inelastic in her attitude, and wondered if the deadly monotony of their lives had laid its weight on her also — Edith Wharton
languishing may suggest delicate indolence, often accompanying boredom or futilely wistful pensiveness
the pair had completely lost their pallid looks and languishing manners; they were as bright-eyed and agile as the hares — Elinor Wylie
languorous may suggest the debilitated languidness characteristic of soft, delicate living, effete shrinking from exertion, and indulgence in emotionalism and sentimentality or an atmosphere compatible with such languidness
reclining on the couch reading a novel in languorous ease
lackadaisical suggests an indifferent or apathetic and inattentive attitude militating against exertion and for futile, halfhearted performance
had the gift of instilling a corresponding vigor into all his lackadaisical black soldiers, who at first sight seemed to be hopelessly addicted to lolling under a bush, and inflexibly determined to do nothing — Kenneth Roberts
listless suggests combined lack of sustained interest and appearance of languor, especially as brought about by ennui, boredom, or illness
was struck by her listless attitude: she sat there as if she had nothing else to do — Edith Wharton
struck with the listless, slovenly behavior of these men; there was nothing of the national vivacity in their movements; nothing of the quick precision perceptible on the deck of a thoroughly disciplined armed vessel — Herman Melville
spiritless applies to utter lack of fire, animation, or force
for once she did not greet him with flowery excitement but with a noncommittal “Hello”. She seemed spiritless — Sinclair Lewis
dominated the starving, spiritless wretches under him with savage enjoyment — F.V.W.Mason
enervated implies a tiring out, exhausting, and sapping, often by luxury or sloth
the enervated and sickly habits of the literary class — R.W.Emerson
enervated by licentiousness, ruined by prodigality and enslaved by sycophants — T.B.Macaulay
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: by alteration
: languet 2a