I. ˈlaŋgwish, ˈlaiŋ-, -wēsh, esp in pres part -wəsh intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English languishen, languissen, from Middle French languiss-, stem of languir, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin languire, from Latin languēre
1. : to become languid : lose strength or animation : be or become dull, feeble, or spiritless : lose force or vividness
conversation languished
: fade
plants languish in the drought
2. : to be or live in a state of lessened or lessening strength or vitality : droop
languishing spirits
: pine with longing
languish for years in prison
: suffer neglect
contract … has languished in committee ever since — Newsweek
3. : to assume an expression of weariness or tender grief or emotion appealing for sympathy
languished at him through screwed-up eyes — Edith Wharton
II. noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English, from languishen, v.
archaic
1. : the act or state of languishing
one desperate grief cures with another's languish — Shakespeare
2. : a languishing tender look or expression
the warm, dark languish of her eyes — J.G.Whittier