lingering etymology

Etymology:

  • Middle English: lingren, langren, from Old English lang, meaning "long" + hyrnan, meaning "to run".
  • The original sense was "to stretch out" or "to continue in duration".

Meaning:

  • To persist or continue for a period of time after the cause or original reason has ceased to exist.
  • To remain present or noticeable in a weakened or reduced form.

Origin:

The word "lingering" originated in Old English and underwent several changes in pronunciation and spelling over time. The root word lang ("long") referred to the notion of something extending in space or time. The addition of the suffix -hyrnan ("to run" or "to continue") emphasized the idea of an ongoing or extended action.

In Middle English, the word evolved into "lingren" and later "langren," with the "g" eventually being dropped in modern English. The meaning of "lingering" gradually shifted from its initial connotation of physical extension to its current sense of enduring or continuing despite obstacles or changes.

lingering relate terms

  • linger

    Etymology Middle English lingren from Old English langian to remain stay linger

  • long

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

  • lingering

    Etymology Middle English lingren langren from Old English lang meaning long hyr

  • engineer

    Etymology The word engineer comes from the Middle English word engynour which in tu

  • board

    Etymology Board comes from the Old English word bord which ultimately derives from t

  • rush

    Etymology The word rush has two distinct etymological origins Germanic origin Poss

  • tarry

    Etymology Middle English tarien from Old English tergan to hinder impede German

  • lurch

    Etymology Late 18th century probably related to lurch a nautical term from the 16th c

  • delay

    Etymology The word delay comes from the Old French word delaier meaning to put off

  • lurk

    Etymology The word lurk comes from the Old English word lurcian which means to lie