languor

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A state of the body or mind caused by exhaustion or disease and characterized by a languid or weary feeling; lassitude; (countable) an instance of this.

   Languor of convalescence.

2. 2
   noun

   Dullness, sluggishness; lack of vigour; stagnation.

   I rushed towards her, and embraced her with ardour; but the deathly languor and coldness of the limbs told me, that what I now held in my arms had ceased to be the Elizabeth whom I had loved and cherished.

3. 3
   noun

   Listless indolence or inactivity, especially if enjoyable or relaxing; dreaminess; (countable) an instance of this.

   It is earth's brief breathing space, after the heat and hurry of her busier time; like that repose known only to the young and happy, when the nerves gradually compose themselves, the thoughts gather into some vague but delicious train, and the eyes are closed by languor before sleep.

4. 4
   noun

   Heavy humidity and stillness of the air.

   There is a languor in the air which encourages your own, and the poetry of memory is in every drooping flower and falling leaf.

The noun is derived from Middle English langore, langour (“disease, illness; misery, sadness; suffering; condition or event causing sadness, suffering, etc.; unwholesomeness; idleness, inertia; depression, self-disgust; expression of grief”) [and other forms], from Middle French languer, langueur, langour, and Anglo-Norman langor, langour, langur, Old French langueur, languour (“disease, illness; suffering; emotional fatigue, sadness; listlessness; stagnation”) (modern French langueur (“languor”)), and from their etymon Latin languor (“faintness, feebleness; languor; apathy”), from languēre, t...

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