I. ˈlimp intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: probably from Middle English lympen to fall short; akin to Old English limpan to happen, Old High German gi limpfan to be fitting, Middle High German limpfen to limp, Old English lemp healt lame, Middle High German lampen to dangle, Latin limbus border, Sanskrit lambate it hangs down, Latin labi to glide, slide — more at sleep
1.
a. : to walk lamely : hobble
leaning on the old-fashioned ebony cane … she limped across the floor — Ellen Glasgow
b. : to go unsteadily : falter , stumble
the conversation limped for some time — Henry Green
this comparison admittedly limps as much as any — Alfred Einstein
his logic limps woefully — Hudson Hoagland
a deliberately limping meter and desperately forced rhymes — William DuBois
2.
a. : to proceed slowly or with difficulty especially as the result of a disabling accident or storm
limped into the harbor with her hold full of water — American Guide Series: Michigan
the plane limped in over the edge of the strip, its engine coughing badly — Howard Hunt
b. : to barely make headway
capable of limping along, hovering around the subsistence level — R.C.Doty
commerce limped toward a standstill — Time
II. noun
( -s )
: the action of limping
walked with a limp
III. adjective
( usually -er/-est )
Etymology: akin to limp (I)
1.
a. : having no defined shape : slack , soft
a limp body that seemed to have been poured into his clothes as if it were sand — Edith Sitwell
letting his body go completely limp with ecstasy — Liam O'Flaherty
limp as a rag
b. : drooping , exhausted
as a result of this protracted session he now felt fairly limp — J.R.Parker
limp with fatigue
2. : lacking in strength or firmness : flabby , spiritless
made a limp gesture as if waving away all desire to know — G.K.Chesterton
small, rather limp jokes — Wolcott Gibbs
a limp young man who finds most of his enjoyment in witnessing the pains and loves of others — New Yorker
3.
a. of a book cover : lined with very flexible paper rather than rigid board
b. of a binding or a book : having limp covers