languish

The definition of languish is to fail to advance or move forward, or to grow weak.

(verb)

An example of languish is a project that just sits on the shelf and never gets finished.
An example of languish is a plant that is never watered and that gets sicker and sicker.

See languish in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb

to lose vigor or vitality; fail in health; become weak; droop
to live under distressing conditions; continue in a state of suffering: to languish in poverty
to become slack or dull; lose intensity
to suffer with longing; pine
to put on an air of sentimental tenderness or wistful melancholy

Origin: ME languishen < extended stem of OFr languir < L languescere < languere, to be weary: see languid

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See languish in American Heritage Dictionary 4

intransitive verb lan·guished, lan·guish·ing, lan·guish·es

To be or become weak or feeble; lose strength or vigor.
To exist or continue in miserable or disheartening conditions: languished away in prison.
To remain unattended or be neglected: legislation that continued to languish in committee.
To become downcast or pine away in longing: languish apart from friends and family; languish for a change from dull routine.
To affect a wistful or languid air, especially in order to gain sympathy.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English languishen

Origin: , from Old French languir, languiss-

Origin: , from Latin languēre, to be languid; see slēg- in Indo-European roots

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