limbo
UK: ˈlɪmbəʊ | US: ˈlɪmboʊ
n. 1. An uncertain period of awaiting a decision or resolution; an intermediate state.
n. 2. (Theology) A place or state of neglect or oblivion for souls not admitted to heaven.
n. 3. A dance or game involving bending backward to pass under a horizontal bar.
Derived from Latin limbus ("edge" or "border"), the term originally referred to the theological concept of a boundary space between heaven and hell for unbaptized souls. Over time, it evolved metaphorically to describe any transitional or unresolved state. The dance/game sense (early 20th century) likely arose from the physical act of bending backward as if hovering at a boundary.
The project remains in limbo due to budget cuts.
Medieval theology debated whether limbo was a state of natural happiness.
She won the limbo contest by arching perfectly under the bar.
Refugees often live in legal limbo for years.
The song's lyrics describe a soul stuck in emotional limbo.