different between lamely vs limp

English

Etymology

lame +? -ly

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?le?mli/

Adverb

lamely (comparative more lamely, superlative most lamely)

1. In the manner of one who is lame.
2. (colloquial) In a foolish or ineffective way.

   He lamely tried to lie his way out of the situation, but he wasn't really trying and no-one believed him.

Anagrams

• Malley, maleyl, mellay

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /l?mp/
• Rhymes: -?mp

Etymology 1

From Middle English limpen (“to fall short”), from Old English limpan, from Proto-Germanic *limpan? (“to hang down”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)lemb-, *(s)lemb?- (“to hang loosely, hang limply”). Cognate with Low German lumpen (“to limp”), Middle High German limpfen (“to hobble, limp”), dialectal German lampen (“to hang down loosely”), Icelandic limpa (“limpness, weakness”).

Verb

limp (third-person singular simple present limps, present participle limping, simple past and past participle limped)

1. (intransitive) To walk lamely, as if favouring one leg.
2. (intransitive, figuratively, of a vehicle) To travel with a malfunctioning system of propulsion.

   The bomber limped home on one engine.

3. (intransitive, figuratively) To move or proceed irregularly.

   limping verses

   The business limped through the recession

4. (poker slang, intransitive) To call, particularly in an unraised pot pre-flop.

Derived terms

• limpard
• limper

Translations

Noun

limp (plural limps)

1. An irregular, jerky or awkward gait.

   She walks with a limp.

2. A scraper for removing poor ore or refuse from the sieve.

Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English *limp, *lemp, from Old English *lemp (recorded only in compound lemphealt (“limping”), from Proto-Germanic *limpan? (“to hang down”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)lemb-, *(s)lemb?- (“to hang loosely, hang limply”). Cognate with German lampecht (“flaccid, limp”), Icelandic lempinn, lempiligur (“pliable, gentle”). See above.

Adjective

limp (comparative limper, superlative limpest)

1. flaccid; flabby, like flesh.
2. lacking stiffness; flimsy

   a limp rope

3. (of a penis) not erect
4. (of a man) not having an erect penis
5. physically weak
   • 2011, Tom Fordyce, Rugby World Cup 2011: England 12-19 France [2]

     Another line-out was stolen, and when the ball was sent left Clerc stepped and spun through limp challenges from Wilkinson, Chris Ashton and Foden to dive over and make it 11-0.

Derived terms

• limp-dick
• limp of the wrist
• limp-wrist
• limp-wristed

Translations

Verb

limp (third-person singular simple present limps, present participle limping, simple past and past participle limped)

1. (intransitive) To be inadequate or unsatisfactory.

Noun

limp (plural limps)

1. A scraper of board or sheet-iron shaped like half the head of a small cask, used for scraping the ore off the sieve in the operation of hand-jigging.

Etymology 3

From Middle English limpen, from Old English limpan (“to happen, occur, exist, belong to, suit, befit, concern”), from Proto-Germanic *limpan? (“to glide, go, suit”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)lemb-, *(s)lemb?- (“to hang loosely, hang limply”). Cognate with Scots limp (“to chance to be, come”), Middle Dutch limpen (“to happen”), Middle Low German gelimpen (“to moderate, treat mildly”), Middle High German limfen (“to suit, become”).

Verb

limp (third-person singular simple present limps, present participle limping, simple past lamp or limped, past participle lump or limped)

1. (obsolete, intransitive) To happen; befall; chance.
2. (obsolete, transitive) To come upon; meet.

Derived terms

• belimp

Etymology 4

Alternative forms

• Limp

Phrase

limp

1. (historical) Acronym of Louis XIV, James II, Queen Mary of Modena and the Prince of Wales. (a code-word among Jacobites)

References

Anagrams

• IPML, impl, pilm, plim

Dalmatian

Alternative forms

• linp

Etymology

From a derivative of Latin lampas. Compare Italian lampo.

Noun

limp m

1. lightning