King James Bible Dictionary

LAN'GUISH, verb intransitive [Latin langueo, lachinisso; Gr. to flag, to lag. Latin laxo, laxus, flacceo.]

1. To lose strength or animation; to be or become dull, feeble or spiritless; to pine; to be or to grow heavy. We languish under disease or after excessive exertion.

She that hath borne seven languisheth. Jeremiah 15:9.

2. To wither; to fade; to lose the vegetating power.

For the fields of Heshbon languisheth. Jeremiah 15:9.

3. To grow dull; to be no longer active and vigorous. The war languished for want of supplies. Commerce, agriculture, manufactures languish not for want of money, but for want of good markets.

4. To pine or sink under sorrow or any continued passion; as, a woman languishes for the loss of her lover.

Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish Hosea 4.

5. To look with softness or tenderness, as with the head reclined and a peculiar cast of the eye.

LAN'GUISH, verb transitive To cause to droop or pine. [Little used.]

LAN'GUISH, noun Act of pining; also, a soft and tender look or appearance.

And the blue languish of soft Allia's eye.

LAN'GUISHER, noun One who languishes or pines.

LAN'GUISHING, participle present tense

1. Becoming or being feeble; losing strength; pining; withering; fading.

2. adjective Having a languid appearance; as a languishing eye.

LAN'GUISHINGLY, adverb

1. Weakly; feebly; dully; slowly.

2. With tender softness.

LAN'GUISHMENT, noun

1. The state of pining.

2. Softness of look or mien, with the head reclined.