ˈliŋgə(r) verb
( lingered ; lingered ; lingering -g(ə)riŋ ; lingers )
Etymology: Middle English (northern dialect) lengeren to dwell, freq. of lengen to tarry, prolong, from Old English lengan to prolong; akin to Old High German lengen to make long, Old Norse lengja; causative from the root of English long (I)
intransitive verb
1. : to remain or wait long : be slow in parting or in quitting something : delay , loiter , tarry
2.
a. : to remain alive although suffering or gradually dying
would not have thee linger in thy pain — Shakespeare
the old man lingered several months after his stroke
b. : to remain existent though waning in strength, importance, or influence
winter lingered
old customs linger
3. : to be slow to act : procrastinate , dawdle , hesitate
charged that he lingered in settling the estate to increase his fees
4. : to move slowly : saunter
lingering homeward
5. now dialect England : long , hanker — usually used with after
transitive verb
1. obsolete : to put off : postpone , defer
2. obsolete : to make extended : protract , prolong
3. : to spend or pass (as a period of time) slowly and often in suffering or distress — often used with out
lingered out several more years
Synonyms: see stay