Lin"ger (l&ibreve;&nsm;"g&etilde;r), v.
i. [imp. & p. p. Lingered (-
g&etilde;rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Lingering.]
[OE. lengen to tarry, AS. lengan to prolong, put off,
fr. lang long. √125. See Long,
a.] To delay; to loiter; to remain or wait
long; to be slow or reluctant in parting or moving; to be slow in
deciding; to be in suspense; to hesitate.
Nor cast one longing, lingering look
behind.
Gray.
Perhaps thou linger'st, in deep thoughts
detained.
Milton.
Syn. -- To loiter; lag; saunter; delay; tarry; stop;
hesitate.
Lin"ger, v. t. 1.
To protract; to draw out. [Obs.]
She lingers my desires.
Shak.
2. To spend or pass in a lingering manner; --
with out; as, to linger out one's days on a sick
bed. Dryden.
