limply


Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Idioms, Encyclopedia.

limp

 (lĭmp)
intr.v. limped, limp·ing, limps
1. To walk lamely, especially with irregularity, as if favoring one leg.
2. To move or proceed haltingly or unsteadily: The project limped along with half its previous funding.
n.
An irregular, jerky, or awkward gait.
adj. limp·er, limp·est
1. Lacking or having lost rigidity, as of structure or substance: limp, wet hair; an arm hanging limp over the side of the bed.
2. Lacking strength, vigor, or effectiveness; weak: limp political opposition.

[Probably from obsolete lymphault, lame, from Old English lemphealt : lemp-, hanging loosely + -healt, lame, limping.]

limp′ly adv.
limp′ness n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Adv.1.limply - without rigidity; "the body was hanging limply from the tree"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations

limply

[ˈlɪmplɪ] ADV
1. (= without energy) [lie] → sin fuerzas
his arms hung limply at his sideslos brazos le colgaban muertos a los lados
her hair hung limply over her faceel pelo lacio le caía sin gracia sobre la cara
2. (fig) (= unconvincingly) [say] → de manera poco convincente; [applaud] → sin entusiasmo
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

limply

advschlapp, schlaff; limply bound in calfskinin weiches Kalbsleder gebunden; …, he said limply…, sagte er mit matter Stimme; (= effeminately)…, flötete er (inf)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

limply

[ˈlɪmplɪ] adv (see adj) → mollemente, flosciamente, fiaccamente
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
References in classic literature ?
He lay on his back limply, as though all the strength had gone out of his limbs, and presently I saw that he had fallen asleep.
And then the moonlight flooded the cave, and there before me lay my own body as it had been lying all these hours, with the eyes staring toward the open ledge and the hands resting limply upon the ground.
At last she tossed him to a corner where he limply lay cursing and weeping.
He sat heavily and swayed limply on his brisk little horse.
Already had he accounted for four of the seven lions and badly wounded the three remaining when in a momentary lull in the encounter he sank limply to his knees and rolled over upon his side.
From the gaff of one, two gay flags hung limply, one a checkerboard of blue and white squares, the other a white pennant centred with a red disc.
The air exploded sharply from his tensed lungs, as he relaxed in surrender, and the hand dropped limply down.
But he was left limply weak, and, after tossing off the blankets and recognizing Jerry, he fell into a refreshing natural sleep.
Genevieve saw her lover's arms drop to his sides as his body lifted, went backward, and fell limply to the floor.
In his arms he carried Anne, whose head lay limply against his shoulder.
One of them cursed sharply and examined the biceps of his left arm, which hung limply by his side, Down the hand she saw the blood beginning to drip.
Instantly the clawlike fingers released their hold, and the creature sank limply to the floor beside Bradley, who lay for several minutes gasping painfully in an effort to regain his breath.