languidly

Languidly is an adverb used to describe the manner in which an action is performed with limited energy or vitality. It conveys a sense of relaxed, unhurried ease, or at times fatigue and indolence. The term derives from the adjective languid, from French languide (ultimately from Latin languere, “to be faint or weak”).

In use, languidly commonly modifies verbs related to movement, posture, speech, or atmosphere. It can imply heat, weariness, or sensuous calm, depending on context. It is often found in literary prose and stylistic descriptions, and may feel more formal or evocative than synonyms such as slowly or lazily.

Examples of usage include: “She walked languidly up the stairs.” “The afternoon sun hung languidly over the valley.” “He spoke languidly, with a sigh after each sentence.” Such sentences illustrate that languidly emphasizes pace as well as a mood or condition—either relaxation, fatigue, or a certain deliberate ease.

Related terms include languid (the adjective form), languor, and lethargy. Languidly differs from lazily in that it stresses a slow, unforced stillness rather than careless passivity, and from slowly in that it carries an extra nuance of mood, atmosphere, or physical weariness.