languid

languid
adjective Etymology: Middle French languide, from Latin languidus, from languēre to languish — more at slack Date: 1597 1. drooping or flagging from or as if from exhaustion ; weak 2. sluggish in character or disposition ; listless 3. lacking force or quickness of movement ; slowlanguidly adverblanguidness noun Synonyms: languid, languorous, lackadaisical, listless, spiritless mean lacking energy or enthusiasm. languid refers to an unwillingness or inability to exert oneself due to fatigue or physical weakness <
was depressed and languid for weeks after surgery
>
. languorous suggests a dreamy boredom and delicacy that avoids unnecessary activity <
languorous cats lying in the sun
>
. lackadaisical implies a carefree indifference marked by halfhearted efforts <
lackadaisical college seniors pretending to study
>
. listless suggests a lack of interest caused by physical weakness or dissatisfied boredom <
listless hospital patients
>
<
listless children flipping through picture books on a rainy day
>
. spiritless refers to a lack of animation or vigor that gives one's actions and words life <
a spiritless recital of the poem
>
.

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Languid — Lan guid, a. [L. languidus, fr. languere to be faint or languid: cf. F. languide. See {Languish}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Drooping or flagging from exhaustion; indisposed to exertion; without animation; weak; weary; heavy; dull. Languid, powerless… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • languid — languid, languishing, languorous, lackadaisical, listless, spiritless, enervated are comparable when they mean lacking in vim or energy or, when applied to things, the appearance of it. Languid usually implies an unwillingness or an inability to… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • languid — I adjective adynamic, anemic, apathetic, apathetical, asthenic, drooping, dry, dull, empty, exanimate, exhausted, faint, fatigued, feeble, flagging, hebetudinous, impotent, inactive, indifferent, ineffective, inert, lackadaisical, languens,… …   Law dictionary

  • languid — (adj.) 1590s, from M.Fr. languide (16c.) and directly from L. languidus faint, listless, from languere be weak or faint, from PIE root * (s)leg to be slack (see LAX (Cf. lax)). Related: Languidly; languidness …   Etymology dictionary

  • languid — [adj] drooping, dull, listless apathetic, blah*, blahs*, comatose, dopey, easy, energyless, enervated, faint, feeble, heavy, impassive, inactive, indifferent, inert, infirm, lackadaisical, laid back, languishing, languorous, lazy, leaden,… …   New thesaurus

  • languid — ► ADJECTIVE 1) disinclined to exert oneself physically. 2) weak or faint from illness or fatigue. DERIVATIVES languidly adverb …   English terms dictionary

  • languid — [laŋ′gwid] adj. [Fr languide < L languidus < languere, to be weary, akin to laxus: see LAX] 1. without vigor or vitality; drooping; weak 2. without interest or spirit; listless; indifferent 3. sluggish; dull; slow languidly adv. languidness …   English World dictionary

  • languid — lan|guid [ læŋgwıd ] adjective 1. ) very slow and relaxed: He lifted his hand in a languid fashion and pushed back his blond curls. 2. ) a languid occasion or period of time is relaxed and pleasant: a languid evening 3. ) LITERARY someone who is… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • languid — UK [ˈlæŋɡwɪd] / US adjective 1) very slow and relaxed He lifted his hand in a languid fashion and pushed back his blond curls. 2) a languid occasion or period of time is relaxed and pleasant a languid evening 3) literary someone who is languid is …   English dictionary

  • languid — [[t]læ̱ŋgwɪd[/t]] ADJ GRADED If you describe someone as languid, you mean that they show little energy or interest and are very slow and casual in their movements. [LITERARY] He s a large, languid man with a round and impassive face... Time spent …   English dictionary

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