languish
UK: ˈlaŋɡwɪʃ | US: ˈlaŋɡwɪʃ
vi. 1. To become weak, feeble, or depressed; to lose vitality.
vi. 2. To suffer neglect or prolonged hardship.
vi. 3. To assume an expression of sentimental melancholy.
The word "languish" traces back to the Latin languere, meaning "to be weak or faint." The root langu- conveys a sense of sluggishness or lack of energy, which evolved into Old French languir (to pine or wither). The suffix -ish was added in Middle English to form a verb, emphasizing the gradual or ongoing nature of the action. The word’s progression reflects a vivid shift from physical weakness (Latin) to emotional or situational decline (Modern English).
Without proper care, the plants will languish and eventually die.
Refugees often languish in camps for years, waiting for resettlement.
Her letters revealed how she languished in loneliness after his departure.
The project languished due to lack of funding.
He gave her a languishing look, full of unspoken sorrow.