[-ING2.] That lingers, delays, loiters, moves slowly, etc.; remaining behind, slow to depart or disappear.
a. 1547. Surrey, in Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 31. Of lingring doutes such hope is sprong pardie.
1561. Sackville & Norton, Ferrex & Porrex, I. ii. 194. The lyngering yeres That draw not forth his ende with faster course.
1594. Warres Cyrus, 289. We’ll starue them with a lingring siege.
1631. Gouge, God’s Arrows, I. § 63. 105. Whether sudden or lingring judgements.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., VIII. 100. Restore, my Charms, My lingring Daphnis to my longing Arms.
1750. Gray, Elegy, 88. Nor cast one longing ling’ring Look behind.
1859. J. Cumming, Ruth, vi. 95. Even in the worst and most depraved of mankind, there is a lingering sense of gratitude.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., 203. The lingering remains of volcanic activity.
b. esp. of disease, suffering or death: Slow, painfully protracted. † Of poisons: Characterized by slow or tardy action. Obs.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. ii. 247. They will … torture him with grieuous lingring death. Ibid. (1611), Wint. T., I. ii. 320. Ibid. (1611), Cymb., I. v. 34. Strange ling’ring poysons.
1623. Webster, Duchess Malfi, V. ii. ’Tis a secret That (like a lingring poyson) may chance lie Spread in thy vaines, and kill thee seauen yeare hence.
1627. F. Little, Mon. Chr. Munif. (1871), 67. His lingering disease increasing, and death approaching.
1655. Nicholas Papers (Camden), II. 289. He yet is extreame weake, and I feare his sicknes will proue lingering, but I hope not in any daunger of his life.
1671. Milton, Samson, 617. My griefs not only pain me As a lingring disease.
1675. Brooks, Gold. Key, Wks. 1867, V. 81. We see him die with lingering torments.
1677. Barrow, Serm. Passion, 14. And that no stupifying, no transient pain, but one both very acute and lingring.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 363, ¶ 13. Lingring and Incurable Distempers.
1762–71. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), IV. 22. He retired … to Richmond, where he died of a lingering illness.
1841. Elphinstone, Hist. Ind., II. 511. He put the widow of Sévají to a painful and lingering death.
1885. Gilbert, Mikado, II. Orig Plays Ser. III. (1895), 208. Punishment! Yes. Something lingering, with boiling oil in it, I fancy.
1887. Kent. Gloss., s.v., He’s in a poor lingering way.
