different between inactive vs languid

English

Etymology

From French inactif. See also earlier unactive.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?n?ækt?v/
• Rhymes: -ækt?v

Adjective

inactive (comparative more inactive, superlative most inactive)

1. Not active, temporarily or permanently.

   The volcano is inactive, but is only dormant.

   An inactive boy, he rarely exercised and preferred to stay indoors.

2. Not functioning or operating; broken down

   The photocopier is inactive pending repair.

3. Retired from duty or service.

   Admiral Jones is now on the inactive list.

4. (chemistry) Relatively inert.

   Aluminium is inactive towards water.

5. (physics) Showing no optical activity in polarized light.

   Synthetic glycine is optically inactive as it contains equal amounts of the d- and l- form.

Synonyms

• (not active): dull, dormant; see also Thesaurus:inactive
• (not functioning or operating): idle

Antonyms

• (not active): active

Derived terms

• inactively
• inactivity

Translations

Anagrams

• antivice, vaticine

French

Verb

inactive

1. first-person singular present indicative of inactiver
2. third-person singular present indicative of inactiver
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of inactiver
4. third-person singular present subjunctive of inactiver
5. second-person singular imperative of inactiver

Adjective

inactive

1. feminine singular of inactif

Latin

Adjective

in?ct?ve

1. vocative masculine singular of in?ct?vus

Portuguese

Verb

inactive

1. first-person singular present subjunctive of inactivar
2. third-person singular present subjunctive of inactivar
3. first-person singular imperative of inactivar
4. third-person singular imperative of inactivar

Spanish

Verb

inactive

1. First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of inactivar.
2. Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of inactivar.
3. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present subjunctive form of inactivar.
4. Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of inactivar.

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?læ?.?w?d/

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Latin languidus (“faint, weak, dull, sluggish, languid”).

Adjective

languid (comparative more languid, superlative most languid)

1. Lacking enthusiasm, energy, or strength; drooping or flagging from weakness, fatigue, or lack of energy
   • March 10 1753, (attributed to) Samuel Johnson, The Adventurer

     As love without esteem is capricious and volatile; esteem without love is languid and cold.

   • 23 March 1816, Jane Austen, letter to Fanny

     I was languid and dull and very bad company when I wrote the above; I am better now, to my own feelings at least, and wish I may be more agreeable.

   • 1848, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair, Chapter 21:

     George had an air at once swaggering and melancholy, languid and fierce.

2. Heavy; dull; dragging; wanting spirit or animation; listless; apathetic.

Synonyms

• exhausted
• faint
• listless
• swear/sweer
• weak
• weary

Derived terms

• languidly

Related terms

• languish
• languor
• languorous

Translations

Etymology 2

Alteration of languet.

Noun

languid (plural languids)

1. A languet in an organ (musical instrument).
   • 1913, Standard Organ Building, page 150:

     As may be required, a small hole is bored in either of the languids, or in the back of the pipe in the space between the two languids. By this means, in addition to the current of air passing between the languids and the lower lip, […]

References

• languid in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• Gauldin, dualing, lauding