languĕo, ēre, 2, v. n. [root lag-; Gr. λαγαρός, λάγνος, lewd; Lat. laxare, lactes; cf. Sanscr. lang-a, prostitute; Gr. λαγώς, hare, λαγόνες, the flanks, womb], to be faint, weary, languid (cf.: languesco, marceo, torpeo).
- I. Lit.
- A. In gen.: cum de via languerem, was fatigued with my journey, Cic. Phil. 1, 5, 12: per assiduos motus languere, to be wearied, Ov. H. 18, 161.
Poet.: flos languet, droops, Prop. 4 (5), 2, 46; Val. Fl. 7, 24 al.: languet aequor, the sea is calm, Mart. 10, 30, 12: lunae languet jubar, is enfeebled, obscured, Stat. Th. 12, 305.
- B. In partic., to be weak, faint, languid from disease (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): languent mea membra, Tib. 3, 5, 28: tristi languebunt corpora morbo, Verg. G. 4, 252: sub natalem suum plerumque languebat, Suet. Aug. 81: si te languere audierimus, Aug. ap. Suet. Tib. 21 fin.: ego langui et aegrotavi per dies, Vulg. Dan. 8, 27; Luc. 7, 10; cf. languesco.
- II. Trop., to be languid, dull, heavy, inactive, listless: languet juventus, nec perinde atque debebat in laudis et gloriae cupiditate versatur, Cic. Pis. 33, 82: nec eam solitudinem languere patior, to pass in idleness, to be wasted, id. Off. 3, 1, 3: otio, id. N. D. 1, 4, 7; cf.: in otio hebescere et languere, id. Ac. 2, 2, 6: si paululum modo vos languere viderint, to be without energy, Sall. C. 52, 18: languet amor, Ov. A. A. 2, 436: mihi gratia languet, Sil. 17, 361.
Hence, languens, entis, P. a., faint, weak, feeble, inert, powerless, inactive, languid: incitare languentes, Cic. Leg. 2, 15, 38; cf.: commovere languentem id. de Or. 2, 44, 186: nostris languentibus atque animo remissis, Caes. B. C. 2, 14: languenti stomacho esse, Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 13: irritamentum Veneris languentis, Juv. 11, 167: vox languens, Cic. Off. 1, 37, 133: cor, Cat. 64, 97: hyacinthus, drooping, Verg. A. 11, 69; so, ramus, Suet. Aug. 92.