different between languish vs lethargy

English

Etymology

From Middle English languysshen, from the present participle stem of Anglo-Norman and Middle French languir, from Late Latin *languire, alteration of Latin langu?re (“to be faint, unwell”).

Compare languor and lax.

Cognate with slack.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /?læ?.?w??/
• Rhymes: -æ??w??

Verb

languish (third-person singular simple present languishes, present participle languishing, simple past and past participle languished)

1. (intransitive) To lose strength and become weak; to be in a state of weakness or sickness. [from 14th c.]

   • We […] do languish of such diseases.

2. (intransitive) To pine away in longing for something; to have low spirits, especially from lovesickness. [from 14th c.]

   He languished without his girlfriend

3. (intransitive) To live in miserable or disheartening conditions. [from 15th c.]

   He languished in prison for years

4. (intransitive) To be neglected; to make little progress, be unsuccessful. [from 17th c.]

   The case languished for years before coming to trial.

5. (transitive, obsolete) To make weak; to weaken, devastate. [15th-17th c.]
6. (intransitive, now rare) To affect a languid air, especially disingenuously. [from 18th c.]

Related terms

• languid
• languor
• languorous

Translations

Anagrams

• haulings, haulsing, nilghaus

English

Etymology

From Middle English litargie, from Medieval Latin litargia, from Late Latin l?th?rgia, borrowed from Ancient Greek ????????? (l?th?rgí?, “drowsiness”), from ???????? (l?th?rgos, “forgetful, lethargic”) +? -??? (-í?, adjectival suffix).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?l??.?(?).d??i/

Noun

lethargy (countable and uncountable, plural lethargies)

1. A state of extreme torpor or apathy, especially with lack of emotion, energy or enthusiasm; (loosely) sluggishness, laziness. [from 14th c.]
2. (pathology) A condition characterized by extreme fatigue or drowsiness, deep unresponsiveness, or prolonged sleep patterns. [from 14th c.]

Related terms

• encephalitis lethargica (EL)
• lethargic
• Lethe

Translations

References

• “lethargy”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.
• “lethargy”, in Merriam–Webster Online Dictionary, (Please provide a date or year).