— lingerer , n. — lingeringly , adv.
/ling"geuhr/ , v.i.
1. to remain or stay on in a place longer than is usual or expected, as if from reluctance to leave: We lingered awhile after the party.
2. to remain alive; continue or persist, although gradually dying, ceasing, disappearing, etc.: She lingered a few months after the heart attack. Such practices still linger among the older natives.
3. to dwell in contemplation, thought, or enjoyment: to linger over the beauty of a painting.
4. to be tardy in action; delay; dawdle: to linger in discharging one's duties.
5. to walk slowly; saunter along.
v.t.
6. to pass (time, life, etc.) in a leisurely or a tedious manner (usually fol. by away or out ): We lingered away the whole summer at the beach.
7. Archaic. to draw out or protract.
[ 1250-1300; ME lengeren to dwell, remain (somewhere), freq. of lengen, OE lengan to delay, prolong, lit., lengthen. See LONG 1 , -ER 6 ]
Syn. 1, 4. tarry. 1, 5 . loiter.