Emily Dickinson Lexicon

LAN'GUISH, v.i. [Fr. languir, languissant; Arm. languiçza; It. languire; L. langueo, lachinisso; Gr. λαγγευω, to flag, to lag. This word is of the family of W. llac, slack, loose; llaciaw, to slacken, to relax. L. laxo, laxus, flacceo, and Goth. laggs, long, may be of the same family.]

1. To lose strength or animation; to be or become dull, feeble, or spiritless; to pine; to be or to grow heavy. We anguish under disease or after excessive exertion. She that hath borne seven languisheth. – Jer. xv.
2. To wither; to fade; to lose the vegetating power. For the fields of Heshbon languish. Is. xvi.
3. To grow dull; to be no longer active and vigorous. The war languished for want of supplies. Commerce, agriculture, manufactures languish, not for want of money, but for want of good markets.
4. To pine or sink under sorrow or any continued passion; as, a woman languishes for the loss of her lover. Therefore shalt the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shalt languish. – Hosea iv.
5. To look with softness or tenderness, as, with the head reclined and a peculiar cast of the eye. – Dryden.