languid
LANG-gwid
/ˈlæŋɡwɪd/
Displaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed.
Can be positive (dreamy, relaxed) or negative (weak, faint). It implies a lack of energy that is almost elegant.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'languere', meaning to be faint or weary. It captures that feeling of being so relaxed or tired that even moving a finger feels like too much work.
Word relationships
- listless: Listless implies a sad or bored lack of energy; languid is often more pleasant or sensual.
- vivacious: Vivacious means full of life and energy; languid is the opposite.
Commonly confused with
- leisurely: Leisurely is a choice to be slow; languid is a state of being too relaxed or weak to be fast.
Word family
- languish (verb): To grow weak or feeble.
- languor (noun): The state of being languid.
Collocations
- languid afternoon
- languid pace
- languid gesture
Example sentences
- "We spent a languid afternoon lying in the shade of the old oak tree." A hot day.
- "She gave a languid wave of her hand as the car drove away." Describing movement.
Memory hook
Languid sounds like 'liquid'—imagine moving slowly like thick honey or liquid. Languid = Lazy and Liquid.
When not to use
Don't use it for a 'sluggish' computer; it's almost always used for people, moods, or atmospheres.
Fun facts
- The word 'languid' is often used in poetry to describe the drooping of flowers.
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