Word: lingering

Associations

'Linger' means to stay in a place longer than necessary, often because one is reluctant to leave. It can evoke feelings of nostalgia, reluctance, or suspense.

• Example 1: "The scent of her perfume lingered in the air long after she left." This shows how a smell can remain even when the source is gone.
• Example 2: "He had a lingering feeling of sadness after the movie." This indicates that the feeling of sadness stayed with him.
• Example 3: "The memories of their vacation lingered in his mind." This suggests that pleasant thoughts or memories continue to stay with someone.

A common synonym for 'linger' is 'remain.' The important difference is that 'linger' often implies an emotional reason for not leaving or a sense of slowness, while 'remain' is more neutral and simply means to stay in one place.

Substitution

In different contexts, you might also use words like 'pause,' 'stagnate,' or 'hold on.'

• 'Pause' suggests taking a brief stop but implies that the person will soon continue.
• 'Stagnate' has a more negative connotation and implies a lack of movement or progress.
• 'Hold on' suggests a conscious decision to stay for a limited time.

Deconstruction

The word 'lingering' is derived from the verb 'linger,' which comes from the Middle English term 'lingeren,' and possibly has roots in the Old Norse word 'lingra,' which means to grow weak or grow long. The suffix '-ing' indicates the action is ongoing.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you felt a lingering emotion after an event? What caused it?
• How does the idea of 'lingering' change when talking about positive feelings versus negative feelings?
• In what situations might you want someone to linger longer or to leave quickly? Why?