language 
The word tatifitiagc, In its moat limited application, Is 
restricted to human articulate speech ; but in Its meta- 
phorical use it embraces every mode of communication by 
which facts can he. made known, sentiments or passions 
expressed, or emotions excited. 
<:. /'. Marsh, Lects. on Eng. Lang., li. 
7f. A people or race, as distinguished by its 
speech; a tribe. 
All the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down 
and worshipped the golden image. Dan. iii. 7. 
Ten men . . . out of all languages of the nations . . . 
shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew. 
Zech. vill. 23. 
Dead language, a language which i* no longer spoken 
or in vernacular use by a people as the traditional and 
native means of expression. Home dead languages have 
disappeared, leaving no representatives, as the Etruscan 
and Egyptian ; others have been succeeded by tongues 
descended from them and more or less resembling them, 
as Latin and Anglo-Saxon ; some, by an artificial process 
of instruction, are still learned and used for writing and 
speaking, like Latin, Sanskrit, and Hebrew. 
The languages, especially the dead, 
The sciences, and all the most abstruse. 
Duron, Don Juan, L 40. 
Flash language. See fash!-. King's language!. See 
Kn0i. Law language. See tatoi. Living language, 
a language still spoken or In vernacular use by a people. 
Now the Coptic Is no more a living language, nor is it 
understood by any, except that some of the priests under- 
stand a little of their liturgy, tho' many of them cannot so 
much as read it, but get their long offices by rote. 
Pococke, Description of tho East, I. 245. 
The bow-wow and pooh-pooh theories of language, 
nicknames applied to the theories which recognize, re- 
spectively, imitations of natural cries and interjections 
as the first beginnings of language. = Syn. 1. Language, 
Dialect, Idiom, Diction, Vocabulary; tongue. The first 
live words are arranged In a descending scale. In com 
moil use it is taken for granted that the dialects under 
one lftng\ia<jc are enough alike to bo reasonably well un- 
derstood by all who are of that language, while different 
language* are so unlike that special study is needed to 
enable one to understand a language that is not his own ; 
but this is not an essential difference. Idiom, literally a 
personal peculiarity, Is in this connection a form of a lan- 
guage somewhat less marked than a dialect: as, the New 
England idiom. Diction is often used for the set of words 
or vocabulary belonging to a person or class, making him 
or it differ in speech from others ; but both this and idiom 
are often expressed by dialect, (See diction. ) Vocabulary 
means the total of the words used by a person, class, etc. , 
considered as a list or number of different words : as, he 
has a large vocabulary. In this respect it differs from an- 
other meaning of idiom that is, any peculiar combina- 
tion of words used by a person, community, nation, etc. 
Every class [in the community], however constituted, 
has Its dialectic differences ; . . . each trade, calling, pro- 
fession, department of study, has Its technical vocabulary. 
. . . The highly cultivated have a diction which is not In 
all its parts at the command of the vulgar. . . . We must 
notice . . . the meaning of the terms language and dialect 
in their relation to one another. They are only two names 
for the same thing, as looked at from different points of 
view. Any body of expressions used by a community, how- 
ever limited and humble, for the purpose of communica- 
tion and as the instrument of thought, is a language. . . . 
On the other hand, there is no tongue in the world to 
which we should not with perfect freedom and perfect 
propriety apply the name of dialect when considering it 
as one of a body of related forms of speech. 
Whitney, Life and Urowth of Lang., pp. 165, 176-8. 
language 1 (lang'gwaj), v. t. ; pret. and pp. lan- 
ffuayed, ppr. languaging. [< language*, n.] To 
express in language. [Rare.] 
A new dispute there lately rose 
Betwixt the Greeks and Latins, whose 
Temples should be bound with glory 
In best languaging this story. 
Lovelace, Lucasta, I. 
It is very likely that Daniel had only the thinking and 
languaging parts of a poet's outfit, without the higher 
creative gift Loirell, Among my Books, 2d SIT. , p. 139. 
language 2 (lang'gwaj), . [A corruption, simu- 
lating language*, of languid^, itself appar. a 
corruption of languet: see languet.'} In organ- 
buitdiiig. the horizontal shelf or partition of 
wood or metal opposite and below the mouth 
of a flue-pipe, by which the wind is obliged to 
pass through a narrow slit between it and the 
lower lip and to impinge upon the edge of the 
upper lip. The front edge of the language is 
usually serrated. See pipe. Also called languid. 
languaged (lang'gwajd), a. [< language* + 
-P.] 1. Provided with a language ; having or 
speaking a language or languages. 
Seek Atridcs on the Spartan shore. 
He, wandering long, a wider circle made. 
And m<my-languag'd nations has survey'd. 
Pope, Odyssey, iii. 
2. Skilled in language, or learned in several 
languages ; instructed in languages. 
To here this apcll was commaunded a clerkc,wcll Ian- 
gaged to do such a besynesse. 
Berners, tr. of Froissart's Chron., I. ccxliii. 
I marvell your noblemen of England doc not desire to be 
better languaged in the forraine languages. 
Puttenham, Arte of Eng. Poesie, p. 227. 
The only languag'd men in all the world ! 
B. Jotiaon, Volpone, it 2. 
3347 
languageless (lang'gwaj-les), a. [< language* 
+ -Icux.] Lacking speech or language; dumb. 
He Is grown a very land-fish, languagelea. a monster. 
xii-il:.. T. and i '.. III. :i. 284. 
language-master ( lang ' gwaj - mas ' ter), n. A 
teuchiT of languages. 
languagert (lang'gwaj-er), n. [< language* + 
-eri.J A linguist. iMfMM, (Hatliu-ell.) 
langued (langd), a. [< F. lani/iu; loneue, + K. 
-erf*.] In her., having a tongue; furnished 
with a tongue : said of a beast used as a bear- 
ing only when the tongue is of a different tinc- 
ture from the rest : as, a lion or langued gules. 
langue d'oc (F. pron. longg dok). [OF. : /</;/"' 
(<Tj. lingua), tongue; de,ot; Pr. oc, yes, < L. hoc, 
this.] A Romance dialect spoken in France 
south of the Loire in the middle ages, it was so 
called from its using the affirmative oc, in distinction from 
(lie dialect spoken in the north of France, which was called 
langue d'oui or langue d'oil, the language using the affirma- 
tive out or oil. The langue d'oc was the language of the 
troubadours, and is sometimes taken as synonymous with 
Provencal, which is one of its principal branches. The 
name was given to one of the old provinces of France In 
which it was spoken, Languedoc. 
Languedoc (lang 'gwe- dok'). . [80 named 
from Languedoc, in southern France.] A name 
sometimes given to wines produced in the old 
province of Languedoc in the south of France, 
from the Rhone to Toulouse, including the mus- 
cat wines of Frontignan and Lunel. 
Languedocian (lang-gwe-do'shan), a. and . 
[< F. langiicdocien; as Languedoc + -i.] I. 
a. Of or pertaining to Languedoc, an old pro- 
vince of southern France, partly bordered by 
the Mediterranean, now divided into several 
departments. 
II. n. 1. A native or an inhabitant of Lan- 
guedoc. 2. The dialect of the langne d'oc still 
spoken in the old province of Languedoc and 
the neighboring region. It is the nearest living rep- 
resentative of the language of the troubadours, and has 
considerable literature. 
langue d'oui (F. pron. longg dwe). [Also langue 
(Foil: OF. langue, tongue; de, of; oui, oil, yes, 
< L. hoc in ml, this (is) that, i. e. that's so, yes. 
See langue (focj A Romance dialect spoken 
in the north of France in the middle ages ; old 
French. It was the language of the trouveres, 
and is the immediate parent of modern French. 
Compare langue d'oc. 
languesce'nt (lang-gwes'ent), a. [< L. lan- 
gucscen(t-)s, ppr. of languesccrc, freq. of lan- 
guere, be weak: see languish.] Growing lan- 
guid or tired. [Rare.] 
The langiuscent mercenary Fifteen Thousand laid down 
their tools. Carlyle, French Rev., II. i. 11. 
languesset, languisset, r. Middle English forms 
ot languish. Chaucer. 
languet (lang'get), t. [< F. languette (= Pg. lin- 
gueta), a little tongue, dim. of langue, < L. lin- 
gua, tongue : see lingual, language. Cf . langeft.'] 
Something in the shape of a little tongue. 
[Obsolete except in technical use.] 
A little languet of land like a tongue thrust ont. . . . 
On this languet I saw standing . . . Yarmouth. 
Holland, tr. of Camden, p. 478. 
Specifically (a) A thin slip or tongue of metal placed to 
preserve the necessary space between the two blades of a 
comb-cutters' saw, the strip being of the thickness of the 
teeth required in the comb. Also called l<ut<rm<l. E. H. 
Knight, (0) On a sword-hilt, a small hinged piece of metal 
which turns down over the scabbard. Also called linguet. 
(c) In muric, same as languette, 2. (cf) In zool., one of the 
series of little tongue-like or tentaculifonn processes on 
a longitudinal ridge along the middle line of the pharyn- 
peal cavity or branchial sac of an ascldian. (e) In entom., 
same as languette, 3 (a). 
languette (lang-gef), n. [< F. languette, little 
tongue : see languet.] 1. A kind of hood form- 
ing a part of a woman's costume in the seven- 
teenth century. 2. In music: (a) The tongue 
of a reed of a harmonium or reed-organ. (6) 
A key of a wind-instrument. See key 1 , 4 (a). 
Also languet. 3. In zool. : (a) Part of an in- 
sect's lower lip; the tonguelet or ligula. See 
lii/iila. Latreille. Also languet. (b) The byssus- 
organ of a mollusk. 
languid 1 (lang'gwid), a. [= F. languide = Sp. 
Itiiiguido = Pg. It. languido, < L. languidus, 
faint, list less, < languere, be faint or listless: see 
l<ni ; jHi#h.~\ 1. Drooping or flagging from weak- 
ness, fatigue, or lack of energy; indisposed to 
exertion; sluggish; relaxed: as, languid move- 
ments ; languid breathing. 
With mincing step, small voice, and languid eye. 
/'"/.., Dunclad, IT. 46. 
Now happy he whose toil 
Has o'er his languid powerless limbs dltfus'd 
A pleasing lassitude. 
Armstrong. Art of Preserving Health, III. 
languishment 
Hence, in general 2. Heavy; dull; drag- 
ging: wanting spirit or animation; listless; 
apathetic. 
I'll hasten to my troops. 
And fire their languid souls with Cato's virtue. 
Additon, Cato, I. 5. 
All round the coast the languid air did swoon. 
Tennyson, Lotos- F-ateni. 
Many clergymen were languid In those days, and did not 
too curiously Inquire Into the reasons which gave them 
such small congregations In country parishes. 
Jfrt. QailteU, Sylvia's Lovers, xl. 
= 8yn. 1. Faint, weary, exhausted. 2. Supine, spiritless, 
torpid, slow. 
languid 2 (lang'gwid), . [Appar. a corruption 
otlanguet.'] 1. Same as languet (a). 2. In 
organ-building, same as language"*. 
languidly (lang'gwid -li). adv. In a languid 
manner; feebly; sluggishly; listlessly; without 
spirit or animation. 
languidness (lang'gwid-nes), n. The state or 
quality of being languid; listlessness ; dull- 
ness; sluggishness; inertness, 
languish (lang'gwish), v. [< ME. lanquishcii, 
languissen, langtcissen, languessen, < OF. (and 
F.) langviss-, stem of certain parts of languir 
(= Pr. languir = It. languire), be listless, < L. 
languescere, begin to be weak, become weak or 
languid, < languere, be faint, be weak; cf. Or. 
Zayydfrui, slacken, loiter, < Mryapoc. slack: per- 
haps akin to E. lag 1 and /</.'. | I. intrang. 1. 
To become weak or spiritless ; become listless 
or sad; lose strength or animation; pine: as, 
to languish in solitude. 
Ladys languei&ande and lowrande to schewe ; 
Alle was buskede In blake, blrdes and othlre. 
That schewede at the sepulture, with sylande teris. 
Mart* Arthur,' (E. E. T. H.\ 1. 4S3R 
She that hath borne seven languitheth. let. xv. 9. 
She might have languished many years before our eyes 
in a continual increase of pain, and totally helpless. 
Qray, Letters, I. 208. 
2. To droop, wither, or fade, as a plant, from 
heat, drought, neglect, or other unfavorable 
conditions. 
For the fields of Heshbon languuh. Is. xvL 8. 
3. To grow feeble or dull; lose activity and 
vigor; dwindle; fall off: as. the war languished 
for lack of supplies; manufactures languished. 
The sacred Faith of Abram languitht not 
In idleness, but alwales waakt and wrought 
Sylccttcr, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, ii., The Vocation. 
This great enterprise, as we know, languished under the 
colonial government. Everett, Orations, IL 51. 
4. To act languidly; present or assume a lan- 
guid appearance or expression, especially as an 
indication of tender or enervating emotion. 
Languid Love, 
Leaning his cheek upon his hand, 
Droops both his wings, regarding thee, 
And so would languuh evermore. 
7Vnm/m, Eleanore. 
When a visitor comes in. she smiles and langirithet, 
you'd think that butter wouldn't melt In her mouth. 
Thackeray, Pendennis, III. 
= Syn. 1. To decline, faint, fall. 
fl. trans. To cause to droop or fail. [Rare.] 
That he might satisfy or languish that burning flame. 
Fliiria, tr. of Montaigne (1613), p. 496. 
languisht (lang'gwish), n. [< languish, r.] The 
act of declining, drooping, or pining ; a languid 
posture or appearance ; languishment. 
One desperate grief cures with another's languuh. 
Shot., R. and 5., L 2. 49. 
languisher (lang'gwish-er), . [< languish + 
-cr*.] One who languishes, droops, or pines. 
[Rare.] 
Yes, good father, 
Mingle the potion so that It may kill me 
Just at the instant this poor languither 
Heaves his last sigh. Maton, CaracUcus. 
languishing ( lang'gwish-ing), p. a. Expressive 
of languor ; indicating tender, sentimental emo- 
tion : as, a languishing look or sigh. 
languishingly (lang'Rwish-ing-h), adr. In a 
languishing or drooping manner ; with lassitude 
or tender longing ; so as to cause languor. 
languishment (lang'gwish-ment), . [= F. 
laiit/uisxemcnt ; as languish + -ment.] 1. The 
state of languishing, or of pining or drooping. 
Yet it is comfort in great languishment 
To be betnoned with compassion ktnde. 
Spentrr, Rnines of Time, L 159. 
A speedier course than lingering languithment 
Must we pursue. Shale., Tit And., II. 1. 11". 
2. A languid appearance or expression; hence, 
softness of look or mien; tender yieldingness 
or compliance. 
What real, what languuhment, what ecstasies. 
J. Beaumont, Psyche, 11. 191. 
