Definition of the word languid

The word "languid" originally came from the Latin adjective "languidus," which means "weak, feeble, or preventing health" (Oxford English Dictionary). It derives from the verb "languere," which means "to be weak or languid" (Merriam-Webster). In medieval Latin, the term was used to describe a febrile disease that made people lose their strength and vigor. This illness was known as "languidus morbus" or "the languid fit," and it was often associated with fevers and other ailments. By the 14th century, the term had taken on a figurative meaning to describe people or things that appeared weak or feeble, lacking in energy or vitality. In the 17th century, the term began to be used in the context of poets and their work, where it was used to describe a literary style characterized by its slowness and lack of precision. Over time, the word "languid" came to be used in various contexts to describe things that were lifeless, dull, or lacking in energy or force. In modern English, it is used to describe things as varied as colorless water, lethargic people, and dull landscapes. Overall, the word "languid" has a rich history and has evolved over time to take on a range of meanings, but all of these meanings are grounded in the original Latin sense of "weakness" or "feebleness."