Etymologically
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langueo

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɫaŋ.ɡʷe.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlaŋ.ɡʷe.o][1]

Forms

langueō (present infinitive languēre); second conjugation, no perfect or supine stems[1]

Etymology

It is from Proto-Italic *(s)lang-u-, perhaps Proto-Indo-European *sl-n-ǵ-u- (“weak, faint”), a nasalized form of the root of laxus “slack”.[2][1][3] De Vaan thinks it was based on an adjective *langu(o)- “faint”.[2] Cognate with Ancient Greek λαγαρός (lagarós, “slack, thin”), Old Norse slakr (“slack”) and English slack.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Accius.[2] Cicero writes that he was tired from his journey and out of sorts.[3] Köbler dates Accius 170–c. 90 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to be physically sluggish, faint or weak, as from illness, and of plants to droop or wilt, as the hyacinth in Virgil.[3] Figuratively it was to be idle or inert, as a sinking people that the orator must rouse, and of feelings to lack vigour, as love without a rival in Ovid.[3] Martial says the sea “languishes” when it is calm.[5]

Its derivatives languor and languēscō stand behind English languor, about 1300, and through Old French languir English languish in the early 14th century.[6]

Timeline

  • 170–c. 90 BC – Accius uses it.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero says he was worn out from a journey.[3][4]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil speaks of a drooping hyacinth.[3][4]
  • early 14th century – English languish is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To be faint, sluggish, weak.[3]
  2. (of plants) To droop, wilt.[3]
  3. To be idle, inert.[3]
  4. (of feelings) To lack vigour, languish.[3]

Word family

  • languefaciō
  • languēscō
  • languidus
  • languificus
  • languor
  • languēns
  • languidē
  • languidulus
  • laxus
  • English languish
  • English languor
  • English slack

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com