languish etymology

Etymology

The word "languish" comes from the Old French word "languir," which in turn is derived from the Latin word "languere," meaning "to be weak or languid."

Meaning and Origin

The word "languish" means to decline in strength, health, or vigor; to lose interest or enthusiasm; or to suffer from prolonged pain or sadness.

The origin of the word "languish" can be traced back to the Indo-European root *langw-, which also appears in the Sanskrit word "langh," meaning "to be lame or weak." This root is thought to be onomatopoeic, imitating the sound of something that is weak or feeble.

Over time, the meaning of "languish" has evolved to encompass a broader range of emotions and experiences, including boredom, melancholy, and despair.

languish relate terms

  • languishing

    Etymology The word languish originates from the Old French word languiss which means

  • languish

    Etymology The word languish comes from the Old French word languir which in turn is

  • languishment

    Etymology The word languishment is derived from the Old French word languiss i e mea

  • languish

    Etymology The word languish comes from the Old French word languir which in turn is

  • catalectic

    Etymology and Meaning The word catalectic comes from the Greek word katalektikos mea

  • laches

    Etymology Old French from Anglo French from Old English lahhs slow sluggish lazy

  • languid

    Etymology Old French languede Latin languidus Proto Indo European lengʰ to be l

  • languish

    Etymology The word languish comes from the Old French word languir which in turn is

  • lease

    Etymology Lease is derived from the Old French word less meaning to let or to relea

  • lessor

    Etymology Old English læssan comparative of līt meaning smaller or lesser

  • lush

    Etymology The word lush comes from the Middle English word lusche which means soft

  • relax

    Etymology The word relax is derived from the Latin word relaxare which means to lo

  • release

    Etymology The word release comes from the Middle English word relesen which in turn

  • relish

    Etymology Old French relesche Germanic laikijaz Proto Indo European lik to lick

  • slack

    Etymology The word slack has Old English and Middle Low German roots Old English s

  • sleep

    Etymology Sleep comes from the Middle English word slēpen which is derived from the

  • ache

    Etymology Ancient Greek ἄχη áchē meaning grief distress pain Meaning

  • yearn

    Etymology Middle English zerne from Old English georn or georne meaning eager

  • pine

    Etymology The word pine is derived from the Latin word pinus which is believed to h

  • marcescent

    Etymology marcescent adj from Latin marcescere meaning to wither or to wilt

  • sweat

    Etymology The word sweat comes from the Old English word swætan which means to per

  • long

    Etymology The word long comes from the Proto Indo European root leng meaning to stre

  • devolve

    Etymology Latin devoluere meaning to roll down or to transfer Meaning To t

  • prod

    Etymology Latin prodere meaning to betray to expose Old French proder prower me

  • drop

    Etymology From Middle English droppe from Old English dropa ddropa drop small porti