The word "lingered" is spelled with eight letters and pronounced /ˈlɪŋɡərd/. The "i" is short, represented by the "ɪ" symbol in IPA transcription, and the "e" is pronounced as a soft "uh" sound, indicated by the "ə" symbol. The "g" in "lingered" is pronounced hard, as in "get". The final "ed" ending indicates that the verb is in past tense. Overall, "lingered" means to stay or remain in a place or situation, often for a prolonged period of time.
Lingered is a verb that refers to the act of staying or remaining in a place, situation, or state for longer than necessary or expected. It describes a prolonged stay or a delay in departure or completion of a particular action or process.
When a person lingers, they often remain in a location or situation after others have left or moved on. This can be due to various reasons, such as enjoying the current environment, being reluctant to leave, or having unfinished business or thoughts.
Lingering can also depict a delay in taking action or completing a task. This delay can occur because of hesitancy, uncertainty, or a desire to prolong a particular situation. For example, someone might linger before making an important decision, avoiding immediate action and taking more time to ponder the options.
Additionally, the term can be used metaphorically to describe the persistence or continuation of a feeling, smell, or sound. For example, a pleasant aroma may linger in a room long after the source has been removed, or the memory of a beautiful sunset may linger in one's mind, evoking emotions or thoughts associated with the experience.
In summary, to linger means to stay or remain in a particular place, situation, or state for an extended period, either physically or metaphorically. It implies a delay, hesitancy, or continuation beyond what is necessary or expected, often involving a sense of enjoyment, reluctance, or indecision.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "lingered" originated from the Middle English verb "linger", which is derived from the Old English word "lingrian". In its earliest form, the word meant "to dwell, delay, or tarry". The Old English word can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic root "lungorōną", which means "to go slowly" or "to walk slowly". This root is also related to the Old Norse word "lingja", meaning "to stay behind" or "lag behind". Ultimately, the etymology of "lingered" links to the concept of moving or staying slowly or behind, which relates to the modern meaning of lingering as prolonging or delaying an action or staying in a place longer than necessary.