Emily Dickinson Lexicon

LING'ER, v.i. [from the root of lońg, Sax. leng.]

1. To delay; to loiter; to remain or wait long; to be slow. Nor cast one longing, lingering look behind. – Gray. Whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not. – 2 Pet. ii.
2. To hesitate; to be slow in deciding; to be in suspense. Perhaps thou lingerest, in deep thought detained. – Milton.
3. To remain long in any state. The patient lingers on a bed of sickness.