Word: languid Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *(s)leg-der. Latin langueō Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-der. Proto-Italic *-iðos Latin -idus Latin languidusder. Middle French languidebor. ▲ Latin languidusbor. English languid Borrowed from Middle French languide (“fatigued, weak; apathetic, indifferent”) (modern French languide), or from its etymon Latin languidus (“faint, weak; dull; slow, sluggish; ill, sick, unwell; (figuratively) inactive, inert, listless”), from langueō (“to be faint or weak; (figuratively) to be idle, inactive, or listless”) (from Proto-Indo-European *(s)leg-, *(s)leh₁g- (“to weaken”)) + -idus (suffix meaning ‘tending to’ forming adjectives). See also the related languish. Cognates * Italian languido (“languid; languishing”) * Portuguese lânguido (“languid; listless”) * Spanish lánguido (“languid, weak”) Pronunciation: /ˈlæŋɡwɪd/, /ˈleɪ̯ŋɡwɪd/, /ˈlɛ̃ŋɡwɪd/, /ˈlæŋɡwəd/, /ˈleɪ̯ŋɡwəd/ 1. Of a person or animal, or their body functions: flagging from weakness, or inactive or weak, especially due to illness or tiredness; faint, listless. Example: [T]he ſalt of vipers is alſo thought to exceed any other animal ſalt vvhatever, in giving vigour to the languid circulation, and prompting to venery. Example: At first she "ran a temperature" in American parlance, and I could not resist the exquisite caloricity of unexpected delights—Venus febriculosa—though it was a very languid Lolita that moaned and coughed and shivered in my embrace. 2. Of a person or their movement: showing a dislike for physical effort; leisurely, unhurried. Example: Loth was he to move / From the imprinted couch, and when he did, / 'Twas with slow, languid paces, and face hid / In muffling hands. Example: A consort was found for him in the royal family of France; and her beauty and grace gave him a languid pleasure. 3. Of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm; apathetic, listless, spiritless, unenthusiastic. Example: VVith ſecret Checks her languid Soule ſhe chid / VVhich vvith ſuch violence never yet did flame; / Her Eyes hung dovvn; her Cheeks vvere over-ſpread / VVith bluſhing (but vvith ô hovv guiltleſſe!) ſhame: […] Example: I'll haſten to my Troops, / And fire their languid Souls with Cato’s Virtue; […] 4. Of a colour: not bright; dull, muted. 5. Of an idea, writing, etc.: dull, uninteresting. Example: [S]ome very languid remarks on the probable brilliancy of the ball were all that broke, at intervals, a silence of half-an-hour, before they were joined by the master of the house. Example: He had written certain thin Books, all of a thin languid nature; but rational, clear; especially a Book of Fables in Verse, which are watery, but not wholly water, and have still a languid flavour in them for readers. 6. Of a period of time: characterized by lack of activity; pleasant and relaxed; unstressful. Example: Unknown to them, when ſenſual pleaſures cloy, / To fill the languid pauſe with finer joy; […] Example: Toil is the portion of day, as sleep is that of night; but if there be one hour of the twenty-four which has the life of day without its labour, and the rest of night without its slumber, it is the lovely and languid hour of twilight. 7. Of a thing: lacking energy, liveliness, or strength; inactive, slow-moving, weak. Example: languid breathing languid movements Example: [T]he ſound [of bees or flies] is ſtrongeſt in dry vveather, and very vveake in rainy ſeaſon, and tovvard vvinter; for then the ayre is moyſt, and the invvard ſpirit grovving vveake, makes a languid and dumbe alliſion upon the parts.