Dictionary

languid en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

/ˈlɛ̃ŋɡwəd/ US, Canada, weak vowel merger
/ˈlæŋɡwɪd/ Received Pronunciation, General American, weak vowel distinction
/ˈleɪ̯ŋɡwəd/ US, Canada, weak vowel merger
(Southern-England) audio
/ˈlɛ̝ŋɡwɘd/ (New-Zealand)
/ˈlɛ̃ŋɡwɪd/ US, Canada, weak vowel distinction
/ˈlæŋɡwəd/ General American, Australia, weak vowel merger
/ˈleɪ̯ŋɡwɪd/ US, Canada, weak vowel distinction

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”)

Meanings

Of a person or animal, or their body functions: flagging from weakness, or inactive or weak, especially due to illness or tiredness; faint, listless.
- 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. 1955, Vladimir Nabokov, chapter 12, in Lolita, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: G[eorge] P[almer] Putnam’s Sons, published August 1958, →OCLC, part 2, page 200:
- [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. 1791, Oliver Goldsmith, “Of Venemous Serpents in General”, in An History of the Earth, and Animated Nature. […], new edition, volume VII, London: […] F[rancis] Wingrave, successor to Mr. [John] Nourse, […], →OCLC, page 191:
Of a person or their movement: showing a dislike for physical effort; leisurely, unhurried.
- A consort was found for him in the royal family of France; and her beauty and grace gave him a languid pleasure. 1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XXIII, in Lady Trevelyan (Hannah More Macaulay), editor, The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume V, London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts, →OCLC, page 103:
- Val watched his back, languid and slim, till it was out of sight … 1928 July, John Galsworthy, “Son of Sleeping Dove”, in Swan Song, London: William Heinemann, →OCLC, part II, page 108:
- Darkness fell before we reached the Belgian frontier, and on through the night our train took her languid way. 1946 January and February, 'Talisman', “Bückeburg to Aberayron”, in Railway Magazine, page 41:
- Loth was he to move / From the imprinted couch, and when he did, / 'Twas with slow, languid paces, and face hid / In muffling hands. 1818, John Keats, “Book II”, in Endymion: A Poetic Romance, London: […] T[homas] Miller, […] for Taylor and Hessey, […], →OCLC, page 94, lines 873–876:
Of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm; apathetic, listless, spiritless, unenthusiastic.
- 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: […] 1648, Joseph Beaumont, “Canto XV. The The Poyson. Stanza 179.”, in Psyche: Or Loves Mysterie, […], London: […] John Dawson for George Boddington, […], →OCLC, page 287, column 1:
- George had an air at once swaggering and melancholy, languid and fierce. 1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, “A Quarrel about an Heiress”, in Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC, page 181:
- Far from any thing inflam[ma]tory, I never heard a more languid debate in this Houſe. 1774 April 19, Edmund Burke, Speech of Edmund Burke, Esq. on American Taxation, April 19, 1774, 2nd edition, London: […] J[ames] Dodsley, […], published 1775, →OCLC, page 72:
- Too lazy or too languid where only his own interests were at stake—touch his benevolence, and all the wheels of the clockwork felt the impetus of the master-spring. 1848 April – 1849 October, E[dward] Bulwer-Lytton, chapter III, in The Caxtons: A Family Picture, volume I, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, published 1849, →OCLC, part I, pages 15–16:
- I'll haſten to my Troops, / And fire their languid Souls with Cato’s Virtue; […] 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene iv, page 13:
- I was languid and dull and very bad company when I wrote the above; I am better now, to my own feelings at least, and wish I may be more agreeable. 1816 March 23, Jane Austen, “Letter LXXXIV”, in Edward, Lord Brabourne, editor, Letters of Jane Austen, volume II, London: Richard Bentley & Son, […], published 1884, →OCLC, page 301:
- [A] Harlot form ſoft-ſliding by, / VVith mincing ſtep, ſmall voice, and languid eye; […] 1742, [Alexander Pope], “Book the Fourth”, in The New Dunciad: As is^([sic]) It was Found in the Year 1741. […], Dublin: […] George Faulkner, →OCLC, page 14, lines 43–44:
Of a colour: not bright; dull, muted.
Of an idea, writing, etc.: dull, uninteresting.
- [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. c. 1803–1805, Jane Austen, “The Watsons”, in J[ames] E[dward] Austen[-]Leigh, A Memoir of Jane Austen: […] to which is Added Lady Susan and Fragments of Two Other Unfinished Tales by Miss Austen, 2nd edition, London: Richard Bentley and Son, […], published 1871, →OCLC, pages 308–309:
- 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. 1865, Thomas Carlyle, “Winter-Quarters 1760–61”, in History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Called Frederick the Great, volume VI, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, book XX, page 152:
Of a period of time: characterized by lack of activity; pleasant and relaxed; unstressful.
- Unknown to them, when ſenſual pleaſures cloy, / To fill the languid pauſe with finer joy; […] 1764 December 19 (indicated as 1765), Oliver Goldsmith, The Traveller, or A Prospect of Society. A Poem. […], London: […] J[ohn] Newbery, […], →OCLC, page 12:
- 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. 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter I, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 1:
Of a thing: lacking energy, liveliness, or strength; inactive, slow-moving, weak.
- languid breathing languid movements
- His thick, heavy, languid, lustreless black hair fell down behind his ears on to his shoulders, in that musicianlike way that is so offensive to the normal Englishman. 1894, George du Maurier, “Part First”, in Trilby: A Novel, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, →OCLC, pages 11–12:
- [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. 1646, Thomas Browne, “Compendiously of Sundry Tenents Concerning Other Animals, which Examined prove either False or Dubious”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], London: […] T[homas] H[arper] for Edward Dod, […], →OCLC, 3rd book, paragraph 10, page 176:
- [W]hen the languid Flames at length ſubſide, / He ſtrovvs a Bed of glovving Embers vvide, / Above the Coals the ſmoaking Fragments turns, / And ſprinkles ſacred Salt from lifted Urns; […] 1717, Homer, “Book IX”, in Alexander Pope, transl., The Iliad of Homer, volume III, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, page 16, lines 325–328:
- I knew the flowers, I knew the leaves, I knew / The tearful glimmer of the languid dawn / On those long, rank, dark woodwalks drenched in dew, / Leading from lawn to lawn. 1832 December (indicated as 1833), Alfred Tennyson, “A Dream of Fair Women”, in Poems, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, stanza XXV, page 128:
- As love vvithout eſteem, is volatile and capricious; eſteem vvithout love, is languid and cold. 1753 March 10, Samuel Johnson [et al.], “Number XXXVI. SATURDAY, March 10, 1753.”, in The Adventurer, volume I, London: […] J[ohn] Payne, […], published 1753, →OCLC, page 212:

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
most languid	Degree=Sup		lexicographic
more languid	Degree=Cmp		lexicographic

Translations (59)

ga meirbh (of a person or animal, or their body functions: flagging from weakness, or inactive or weak, especially due to illness or tiredness — see also faint, listless) · mi toupiore (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · bg отпуснат (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · fr faiblard (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · uz suzuk (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · it languido (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · ro lânced (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · ota مخمور (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · ru то́мный (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · ja 気だるい (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · sh апа̀тичан (of an idea, writing, etc.: dull, uninteresting) · fa سست (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · la languidus (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · fr apathique (of an idea, writing, etc.: dull, uninteresting) · bg безжизнен (of an idea, writing, etc.: dull, uninteresting) · fy têd (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · ja のろい (of an idea, writing, etc.: dull, uninteresting) · ru безжи́зненный (of an idea, writing, etc.: dull, uninteresting) · it atono (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · ru вя́лый (of an idea, writing, etc.: dull, uninteresting) · ru апати́чный (of an idea, writing, etc.: dull, uninteresting) · ja 緩慢 (of an idea, writing, etc.: dull, uninteresting) · hu bágyadt (of a person or animal, or their body functions: flagging from weakness, or inactive or weak, especially due to illness or tiredness — see also faint, listless) · sh бе̏животан (of an idea, writing, etc.: dull, uninteresting) · sh apàtičan (of an idea, writing, etc.: dull, uninteresting) · sh малàксао (of a person or animal, or their body functions: flagging from weakness, or inactive or weak, especially due to illness or tiredness — see also faint, listless) · nrf langouotheux (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · pl ospały (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · sh mlȉtav (of an idea, writing, etc.: dull, uninteresting) · az ölüvay (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · fi veltto (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · hu bágyadt (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · sh bȅživotan (of an idea, writing, etc.: dull, uninteresting) · hi आलसी (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · fa فشل (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · bg вял (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · ota كوشك (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · ru вя́лый (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · sh мли̏тав (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · fr languide (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · de matt (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · ja 弱々しい (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · sh мли̏тав (of an idea, writing, etc.: dull, uninteresting) · ga marbhánta (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · es lánguido (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · uk кволий (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · cmn 無精打采的 /无精打采的 (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · pl słaby (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · sh mlȉtav (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · mi haumāruru (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · pl ociężały (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · ja 物憂い (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · fa وارفته (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · sh malàksao (of a person or animal, or their body functions: flagging from weakness, or inactive or weak, especially due to illness or tiredness — see also faint, listless) · mk малаксан (of a person or animal, or their body functions: flagging from weakness, or inactive or weak, especially due to illness or tiredness — see also faint, listless) · de träge (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · pt lânguido (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · ca lànguid (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm) · fr faible (of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm)

languid en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

/ˈlɛ̃ŋɡwəd/ US, Canada, weak vowel merger
/ˈlæŋɡwɪd/ Received Pronunciation, General American, weak vowel distinction
/ˈleɪ̯ŋɡwəd/ US, Canada, weak vowel merger
(Southern-England) audio
/ˈlɛ̝ŋɡwɘd/ (New-Zealand)
/ˈlɛ̃ŋɡwɪd/ US, Canada, weak vowel distinction
/ˈlæŋɡwəd/ General American, Australia, weak vowel merger
/ˈleɪ̯ŋɡwɪd/ US, Canada, weak vowel distinction

Etymology

A variant of languet.

Meanings

Synonym of languet (“a flat plate in (or opposite and below the mouth of) the pipe of an organ”).
- A new method of voicing flue pipes has recently been introduced by which a greater volume of tone is obtained without increasing the wind pressure. This is accomplished by making use of TWO languids in metal pipes with a space between the upper and lower languids. As may be required, a small hole is bored in either of the languids, or in the back of the pipe in the space between the two languids. 1913, William Horatio Clarke, “Double Languids”, in Standard Organ Building, Boston, Mass.: Richard G. Badger, the Gorham Press, →OCLC, page 150:

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
languids	Number=Plur		lexicographic

Synonyms

language · languet

languid en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

Etymology

Meanings

Forms

Antonyms

Deriveds

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Translations (59)

languid en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

Etymology

Meanings

Forms

Synonyms