linger

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   move to and fro

   The shy student lingered in the corner

2. 2
   verb

   remain present although waning or gradually dying

   The smell of fried fish lingers in the kitchen long after the meal is over.

3. 3
   verb

   To stay or remain in a place or situation, especially as if unwilling to depart or not easily able to do so.

   Still more foole I ſhall appeare / By the time I linger here

4. 4
   verb

   To remain alive or existent although still proceeding toward death or extinction; to die gradually.

   He lingered through the day, and died that evening as the sun went down.

5. 5
   verb

   To consider or contemplate for a period of time; to engage in analytic thinking or discussion.

   Trump doesn't linger on the poll.

6. 6
   verb

   leave slowly and hesitantly

7. 7
   verb

   take one's time

8. 8
   verb

   be about

Etymology

From Middle English lengeren, frequentative of lengen (“to stay, dwell, tarry”), from Old English lenġan (“to lengthen, delay, extend”), from Proto-West Germanic *langijan, from Proto-Germanic *langijaną (compare West Frisian lingje (“to linger”), Dutch lengen, German längen, Icelandic lengja (“to lengthen”)), related to the root of English long. Equivalent to linge or long + -er (frequentative verb suffix).