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languish (v.)

early 14c., "fail in strength, exhibit signs of approaching death," from languiss-, present participle stem of Old French languir "be listless, pine, grieve, fall ill" (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *languire, from Latin languere "be weak or faint" (from PIE root *sleg- "be slack, be languid"). Weaker sense of "be lovesick, grieve, lament, grow faint," is from mid-14c. Related: Languished; languishing.

Origin and meaning of languish

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Definitions of languish from WordNet

languish (v.)
lose vigor, health, or flesh, as through grief;
Synonyms: pine away / waste
languish (v.)
have a desire for something or someone who is not present;
Synonyms: ache / yearn / yen / pine
languish (v.)
become feeble;
The prisoner has been languishing for years in the dungeon
Synonyms: fade
From wordnet.princeton.edu