<p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li>to be or become weak or feeble; droop; fade: Whether the plant thrives or languishes and dies is heavily dependent on the climate.</li><li>to lose vigor and vitality: Though she was once full of energy, her illness had caused her to languish.</li><li>to undergo neglect or experience prolonged inactivity; suffer hardship and distress: to languish in prison for ten years.</li><li>to be subjected to delay or disregard; be ignored: a petition that languished on the warden's desk for a year.</li><li>to pine with desire or longing.</li><li>to assume an expression of tender, sentimental melancholy.</li></ul><p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>Archaic. the act or state of being neglected, losing vigor, or becoming weak.</li><li>Archaic. a tender, melancholy look or expression.</li></ul>