# languish

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈlæŋ.ɡwɪʃ/ · frequency rank #50,034

## Definitions
1. To lose strength and become weak; to be in a state of weakness or sickness.
2. To pine away in longing for something; to have low spirits, especially from lovesickness.
3. To live in miserable or disheartening conditions.
4. To be neglected; to make little progress, be unsuccessful.
5. To make weak; to weaken, devastate.
6. To affect a languid air, especially disingenuously.

## 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.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/languish