languish

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb lose vigor, health, or flesh, as through grief
  2. verb have a desire for something or someone who is not present
  3. verb become feeble

Etymology

From Middle English languysshen, from the present participle stem of Anglo-Norman and Middle French languir, from Late Latin languīre, alteration of Latin languēre (“to be faint, unwell”). : Compare languor and lax. : Cognate with slack.

In classic literature

Synonyms

pine away, waste

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