See limbo in All languages combined, or Wiktionary
{
"derived": [
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
"word": "development limbo"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
"word": "limbolike"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
"word": "limbo set"
}
],
"etymology_number": 1,
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*leb-"
},
"expansion": "",
"name": "root"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "noun"
},
"expansion": "noun",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "enm",
"3": "limbo"
},
"expansion": "Middle English limbo",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la",
"3": "limbō"
},
"expansion": "Latin limbō",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "ablative"
},
"expansion": "ablative",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "singular"
},
"expansion": "singular",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "1"
},
"expansion": "¹",
"name": "sup"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "1"
},
"expansion": "¹",
"name": "sup"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*lemb-",
"t": "to hang limply or loosely"
},
"expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *lemb- (“to hang limply or loosely”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*leb-",
"t": "to hang down loosely (?)"
},
"expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *leb- (“to hang down loosely (?)”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "limp"
},
"expansion": "Doublet of limp",
"name": "doublet"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "verb"
},
"expansion": "verb",
"name": "glossary"
}
],
"etymology_text": "The noun is derived from Middle English limbo, lymbo (“place where innocent souls exist temporarily until they can enter heaven”), from Latin limbō, the ablative singular of limbus (“border, edge; hem; fringe, tassel”) (notably in expressions like in limbō (“in limbo”) and e limbō (“out of limbo”)); further etymology uncertain, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *lemb- (“to hang limply or loosely”), from Proto-Indo-European *leb- (“to hang down loosely (?)”). Doublet of limp.\nThe verb is derived from the noun.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "limbos",
"tags": [
"plural"
]
},
{
"form": "limboes",
"tags": [
"plural"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "~",
"2": "+",
"3": "es"
},
"expansion": "limbo (countable and uncountable, plural limbos or limboes)",
"name": "en-noun"
}
],
"hyphenation": [
"lim‧bo"
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "noun",
"related": [
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
"word": "hell"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
"word": "paradise"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
"word": "purgatory"
}
],
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
{
"kind": "topical",
"langcode": "en",
"name": "Roman Catholicism",
"orig": "en:Roman Catholicism",
"parents": [
"Catholicism",
"Christianity",
"Abrahamism",
"Religion",
"Culture",
"Society",
"All topics",
"Fundamental"
],
"source": "w"
},
{
"_dis": "18 7 13 4 6 9 16 3 6 18",
"kind": "other",
"name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
"parents": [
"Entries with incorrect language header",
"Entry maintenance"
],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "6 4 0 1 9 3 8 1 3 3 8 1 2 10 10 9 10 2 0 2 0 0 2 3",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Pages with entries",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "49 6 11 14 7 8 4",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Armenian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "46 8 14 11 7 9 5",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "46 7 13 13 7 10 4",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Catalan translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "45 6 12 15 9 9 4",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Czech translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "19 5 12 5 5 7 15 3 6 22",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Dutch translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "29 5 9 8 5 6 15 2 4 16",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Finnish translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "20 5 11 5 4 7 18 3 7 21",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with French translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "34 11 22 7 8 13 6",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with German translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "27 6 9 9 6 9 14 4 4 13",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Hungarian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "34 9 23 8 8 13 5",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Japanese translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "30 5 9 9 5 6 15 2 4 15",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Korean translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "47 7 13 12 8 9 4",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Macedonian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "25 5 10 10 5 7 16 3 4 15",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Mandarin translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "28 5 9 8 5 5 15 3 5 17",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Marathi translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "32 11 19 8 8 13 9",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Middle English translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "44 7 13 14 7 9 5",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Polish translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "46 8 13 12 8 9 5",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Portuguese translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "19 5 12 4 5 7 18 2 5 23",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Russian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "46 8 13 11 8 9 4",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Slovak translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "37 8 24 7 7 12 5",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Spanish translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "20 5 12 5 5 7 15 3 6 22",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Welsh translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "50 1 2 37 2 3 2 1 1 0",
"kind": "topical",
"langcode": "en",
"name": "Afterlife",
"orig": "en:Afterlife",
"parents": [
"Death",
"Mythology",
"Philosophy",
"Religion",
"Body",
"Life",
"Culture",
"All topics",
"Nature",
"Society",
"Fundamental"
],
"source": "w+disamb"
}
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1528 October 12 (Gregorian calendar), William Tyndale, “William Tyndale other wise Called William Hychins vnto the Reader”, in The Obediẽce of a Christen Man […], [Antwerp]: [Johannes Hoochstraten], →OCLC, folio xix, recto:",
"text": "Of vvhat texte thou proveſt hell / vvill a nother prove purgatory / a nother lymbo patrum / and a nother the aſſumpcion of oure ladi: And a nother ſhall prove of the ſame texte that an Ape hath a tayle.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "c. 1588–1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Most Lamentable Romaine Tragedie of Titus Andronicus: […] (First Quarto), London: […] Iohn Danter, and are to be sold by Edward White & Thomas Millington, […], published 1594, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:",
"text": "Oh vvhat a ſimpathie of vvoe is this, / As farre from helpe, as Lymbo is from bliſſe.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1605, [Thomas Heywood], If You Know Not Me, You Know No Bodie: Or, The Troubles of Queene Elizabeth, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot] for Nathaniel Butter, published 1606, →OCLC, signature D2, recto:",
"text": "VVith all our heart, fare-vvell, fare-vvell, / I am freed from Lymbo, to be ſent to hell.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1626 November 15 (Gregorian calendar), John Donne, “The Third of My Prebend Sermons upon My Five Psalms. Sermon LXVII. Preached at St. Paul’s, November 5, 1626.”, in Henry Alford, editor, The Works of John Donne, D.D., […], volume III, London: John W[illiam] Parker, […], published 1839, →OCLC, page 183:",
"text": "And they who have multiplied hells unto us, and made more hells than God hath made, more by their two limboes, (one for fathers, another for children) and one purgatory, have yet made their new hells more of the nature of heaven than of hell.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1992, William R. LaFleur, “Jizō at the Crosswords”, in Liquid Life: Abortion and Buddhism in Japan, Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, →ISBN, part 1 (Original Concepts), page 57:",
"text": "Limbo, or more exactly the notion of two different limbos within Christendom, was also an invention. Many medieval Christians had difficulty accepting the idea of eternal punishment meted out to two categories of persons who, on strictly technical grounds, were \"outside\" the Church and otherwise quite beyond the pale. The first category embraced wise and just people who died before the coming of Christ, and the second included all infants born within Christendom but, unfortunately, unbaptized at the time of their death.",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"A speculation, thought possibly to be on the edge of the bottomless pit of Hell, where the souls of innocent deceased people might exist temporarily until they can enter heaven, specifically those of the saints who died before the advent of Jesus Christ (who occupy the limbo patrum or limbo of the patriarchs or fathers) and those of unbaptized infants (who occupy the limbo infantum or limbo of the infants); (countable) the possible place where each category of souls might exist, regarded separately."
],
"id": "en-limbo-en-noun-en:Roman_Catholicism",
"links": [
[
"Roman Catholicism",
"Roman Catholicism"
],
[
"edge",
"edge#Noun"
],
[
"bottomless pit",
"bottomless pit"
],
[
"Hell",
"Hell"
],
[
"souls",
"soul#Noun"
],
[
"innocent",
"innocent#Adjective"
],
[
"deceased",
"deceased#Adjective"
],
[
"people",
"person#Noun"
],
[
"exist",
"exist"
],
[
"temporarily",
"temporarily"
],
[
"enter",
"enter#Verb"
],
[
"heaven",
"heaven"
],
[
"saints",
"saint#Noun"
],
[
"died",
"die#Verb"
],
[
"advent",
"advent"
],
[
"Jesus Christ",
"Jesus Christ"
],
[
"occupy",
"occupy"
],
[
"patriarch",
"patriarch"
],
[
"fathers",
"father#Noun"
],
[
"unbaptized",
"unbaptized"
],
[
"infants",
"infant#Noun"
],
[
"category",
"category"
],
[
"regarded",
"regard#Verb"
],
[
"separately",
"separately"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(Roman Catholicism, uncountable) A speculation, thought possibly to be on the edge of the bottomless pit of Hell, where the souls of innocent deceased people might exist temporarily until they can enter heaven, specifically those of the saints who died before the advent of Jesus Christ (who occupy the limbo patrum or limbo of the patriarchs or fathers) and those of unbaptized infants (who occupy the limbo infantum or limbo of the infants); (countable) the possible place where each category of souls might exist, regarded separately."
],
"senseid": [
"en:Roman Catholicism"
],
"tags": [
"uncountable"
],
"topics": [
"Catholicism",
"Christianity",
"Roman-Catholicism"
],
"translations": [
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "hy",
"lang": "Armenian",
"roman": "kʻavaran",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "քավարան"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "preddverie na ada",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "преддверие на ада"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "ca",
"lang": "Catalan",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"masculine",
"plural"
],
"word": "llimbs"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "靈薄獄"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"roman": "língbáoyù",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "灵薄狱"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "cs",
"lang": "Czech",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "předpeklí"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "limbo"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "limbus"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "voorgeborchte"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "limbus"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "välitila"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"masculine",
"plural"
],
"word": "limbes"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "Limbus"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "Vorhölle"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "limbus"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "a pokol tornáca"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"alt": "へんど",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"roman": "hendo",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "辺土"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"alt": "へんごく",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"roman": "hengoku",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "辺獄"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "ko",
"lang": "Korean",
"roman": "rimbo",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "림보"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "ko",
"lang": "Korean",
"roman": "jiog-ui byeonbang",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "지옥의 변방"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "mk",
"lang": "Macedonian",
"roman": "prédvorje na pékolot",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "пре́дворје на пе́колот"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "enm",
"lang": "Middle English",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "lymbo"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "enm",
"lang": "Middle English",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "limbus"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "otchłań"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "limbo"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "limb",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "лимб"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "sk",
"lang": "Slovak",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "limbus"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "sk",
"lang": "Slovak",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "predpeklie"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "limbo"
},
{
"_dis1": "83 6 2 5 2 3",
"code": "cy",
"lang": "Welsh",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "limbo"
}
]
},
{
"categories": [],
"examples": [
{
"text": "My passport application has been stuck in bureaucratic limbo for two weeks.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"ref": "1642, Tho[mas] Browne, “The First Part”, in Religio Medici. […], 4th edition, London: […] E. Cotes for Andrew Crook […], published 1656, →OCLC, section 54, page 115:",
"text": "It is hard to place thoſe ſoules in Hell vvhoſe vvorthy lives doe teach us vertue on earth; methinks amongſt thoſe many ſubdiviſions of hel, there might have been one Limbo left for theſe: […]",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1642 April, John Milton, An Apology for Smectymnuus; republished in A Complete Collection of the Historical, Political, and Miscellaneous Works of John Milton, […], volume I, Amsterdam [actually London: s.n.], 1698, →OCLC, page 178:",
"text": "Proceeding further, I am met vvith a vvhole ging of vvords and phraſes not mine, for he hath maim'd them, and like a ſlye depraver mangl'd them in this his vvicked Limbo, vvorſe then the ghoſt of Deiphobus appear'd to his friend Æneas.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1644, John Milton, Areopagitica; a Speech of Mr. John Milton for the Liberty of Unlicenc’d Printing, to the Parlament of England, London: [s.n.], →OCLC, page 9:",
"text": "[T]hat myſterious iniquity provokt and troubl'd at the firſt entrance of Reformation, ſought out nevv limbo's and nevv hells vvherein they might include our Booke alſo vvithin the number of their damned.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 489 and 492–496:",
"text": "[T]hen might ye ſee / […] / Indulgences, Diſpenſes, Pardons, Bulls, / The ſport of Winds: all theſe upwhirld aloft / Fly o're the backſide of the World farr off / Into a Limbo large and broad, ſince calld / The Paradiſe of Fools, […]",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1712 February 20 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “SATURDAY, February 9, 1711–1712”, in The Spectator, number 297; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume III, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 481:",
"text": "[…] [John] Milton has interwoven in the texture of his fable, some particulars which do not seem to have probability enough for an epic poem, particularly in the actions which he ascribes to Sin and Death, and the picture he draws of the ‘Limbo of Vanity,’ with other passages in the second book.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1831, Thomas Carlyle, “The World out of Clothes”, in Sartor Resartus: The Life and Opinions of Herr Teufelsdröckh. […], London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, 1st book, page 34:",
"text": "Society sails through the Infinitude on Cloth, as on a Faust's Mantle, or rather like the Sheet of clean and unclean beasts in the Apostle's Dream; and without such Sheet or Mantle, would sink to endless depths, or mount to inane limboes, and in either case be no more.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1839 June 15 (date written), John Sterling, “Clifton”, in Thomas Carlyle, The Life of John Sterling, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1851, →OCLC, part II, page 241:",
"text": "As yet my books are lying as ghost books, in a limbo on the banks of a certain Bristolian Styx, humanly speaking, a Canal; […]",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1881 April 23, “Lord Beaconsfield and Homœpathy”, in George F[rederick] Shrady [Sr.], editor, The Medical Record: A Weekly Journal of Medicine and Surgery, volume 19, New York, N.Y.: William Wood & Co. […], →OCLC, page 466, column 1:",
"text": "Homœpathy, so-called, is an unutterable humbug, and is to be consigned to the eternal Limbos of the Unblessed—where, indeed, it is already for the most part gone.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1896, Honoré de Balzac, translated by Ernest Dowson, La Fille aux Yeux d’Or [The Girl with the Golden Eyes], London: Leonard Smithers […], →OCLC, page 95:",
"text": "[U]rged beyond that line where the soul is mistress over herself, he lost himself in those delicious limboes, which the vulgar call so foolishly \"the imaginary regions.\"",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "a. 1899 (date written), William Cowper Brann, “Talmage the Turgid”, in The Complete Works of Brann the Iconoclast, volume I, New York, N.Y.: The Brann Publishers, published 1919, page 200:",
"text": "His [Thomas De Witt Talmage's] so-called \"sermons\" are but fragmentary and usually ignorant allusions to things in general. He seldom or never encroaches upon the realms of science and philosophy, although he frequently attempts it, and evidently imagines that he is succeeding admirably, when he is but sloshing around, like a drunken comet that is chiefly tail, in inane limboes.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1997, Joy Ann James, “Black Feminism: Liberation Limbos and Existence in Gray”, in Lewis R[icardo] Gordon, editor, Existence in Black: An Anthology of Black Existential Philosophy, New York, N.Y., London: Routledge, →ISBN, part IV (Black Existence and Black Liberation), page 216:",
"text": "Like unbaptized children and the non-Christian righteous, black feminisms have been relegated to an outer realm where, while not exactly punished for their sins, they are ghettoized for an alleged poor timing and inability to encounter the \"larger paradigms\" undergirding existence. Women from oppressed peoples routinely find themselves in liberation limbos.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "2021 May 5, Philip Haigh, “I Think We Need Better than This from the Rail Industry”, in Rail, number 930, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 51:",
"text": "But the railway is in limbo, paralysed by indecision. Let's have some clarity.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "2022 October 7, Jim Waterson, “Legal action by Doreen Lawrence and Prince Harry could mire Daily Mail for years”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-03-14:",
"text": "The bigger worry for the Mail is that, if any of the claims are successful, it could open the door for other cases against the newspaper that could leave it in legal limbo for years.",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Chiefly preceded by in: any in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion which results in deadlock, delay, or some other unresolved status."
],
"id": "en-limbo-en-noun-SaOOjpwz",
"links": [
[
"in",
"in#Preposition"
],
[
"in-between",
"in-between"
],
[
"condition",
"condition#Noun"
],
[
"state",
"state#Noun"
],
[
"neglect",
"neglect#Noun"
],
[
"oblivion",
"oblivion"
],
[
"results",
"result#Verb"
],
[
"deadlock",
"deadlock#Noun"
],
[
"delay",
"delay#Noun"
],
[
"unresolved",
"unresolved"
],
[
"status",
"status"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(by extension)",
"(countable, uncountable) Chiefly preceded by in: any in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion which results in deadlock, delay, or some other unresolved status."
],
"tags": [
"broadly",
"countable",
"uncountable"
],
"translations": [
{
"_dis1": "6 77 1 2 14 1",
"code": "ca",
"lang": "Catalan",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"tags": [
"masculine",
"plural"
],
"word": "llimbs"
},
{
"_dis1": "6 77 1 2 14 1",
"code": "cs",
"lang": "Czech",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"word": "nevyjasněná situace"
},
{
"_dis1": "6 77 1 2 14 1",
"code": "cs",
"lang": "Czech",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "nejistota"
},
{
"_dis1": "6 77 1 2 14 1",
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"tags": [
"masculine",
"neuter"
],
"word": "limbo"
},
{
"_dis1": "6 77 1 2 14 1",
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"word": "paitsio"
},
{
"_dis1": "6 77 1 2 14 1",
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"word": "limbes"
},
{
"_dis1": "6 77 1 2 14 1",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "Schwebezustand"
},
{
"_dis1": "6 77 1 2 14 1",
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"word": "bizonytalanság"
},
{
"_dis1": "6 77 1 2 14 1",
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"word": "köztes állapot/helyzet"
},
{
"_dis1": "6 77 1 2 14 1",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"roman": "rinbo",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"word": "リンボ"
},
{
"_dis1": "6 77 1 2 14 1",
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "próżnia"
},
{
"_dis1": "6 77 1 2 14 1",
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "limbo"
},
{
"_dis1": "6 77 1 2 14 1",
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "limb",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "лимб"
},
{
"_dis1": "6 77 1 2 14 1",
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "podvéšennoje sostojánije",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "подве́шенное состоя́ние"
},
{
"_dis1": "6 77 1 2 14 1",
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "limbo"
}
]
},
{
"categories": [
{
"_dis": "18 7 13 4 6 9 16 3 6 18",
"kind": "other",
"name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
"parents": [
"Entries with incorrect language header",
"Entry maintenance"
],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "19 5 12 5 5 7 15 3 6 22",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Dutch translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "20 5 11 5 4 7 18 3 7 21",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with French translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "19 5 12 4 5 7 18 2 5 23",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Russian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "20 5 12 5 5 7 15 3 6 22",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Welsh translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
}
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii], page 94, column 1:",
"text": "Adr[iana]. VVhere is thy Maſter Dromio? Is he vvell? / S. Dro. [Dromio of Syracuse] No, he's in Tartar limbo, vvorſe then hell: […] / S. Dro. I doe not knovv the matter, hee is reſted [i.e., arrested] on the caſe. / Adr. VVhat is he arreſted? tell me at vvhoſe ſuite?",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii], page 231, column 1:",
"text": "Theſe are the youths that thunder at a Playhouſe, and fight for bitten Apples, that no Audience but the tribulation of Tovver Hill, or the Limbes of Limehouſe, their deare Brothers are able to endure. I haue ſome of 'em in Limbo Patrum, and there they are like to dance theſe three dayes; beſides the running Banquet of tvvo Beadles, that is to come.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1663 (indicated as 1664), [Samuel Butler], “The Second Part of Hudibras. Canto I.”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678, →OCLC; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC, page 108:",
"text": "[O]n she went, / To find the Knight in Limbo pent: / And 'twas not long before she found / Him, and his stout Squire in the Pound; / Both coupled in Inchanted Tether, / By further Leg behind together: […]",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1796 February, Constantia [pseudonym; Judith Sargent Murray], “The Traveller Returned, Concluded”, in The Gleaner. A Miscellaneous Production. […], volume III, number LXXXIV, Boston, Mass.: […] I[saiah] Thomas and E[benezer] T. Andrews, […], →OCLC, act IV, scene iii, page 156:",
"text": "Patr[ick]. […] [S]hame burn my cheek! My maſter, d'ye ſee, had gotten into the limboes; […] / Major C[amden]. But vvhat do you mean by your maſter's being in the limboes, Patrick? / Patr. VVhy, Maſter Tipſtaff here—Isn't it Tipſtaff ye call him?—kidnapped him; that's all, Honey.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1843 April, Thomas Carlyle, “The Abbot’s Troubles”, in Past and Present, American edition, Boston, Mass.: Charles C[offin] Little and James Brown, published 1843, →OCLC, book II (The Ancient Monk), page 100:",
"text": "Abbot Samson […] hurls out a bolt or two of excommunication: lo, one disobedient Monk sits in limbo, excommunicated, with foot-shackles on him, all day; and three more our Abbot has gyved 'with the lesser sentence, to strike fear into the others!'",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1881, Walter Besant, James Rice, “How the Doctor was at Home to His Friends”, in The Chaplain of the Fleet […], volume I, London: Chatto and Windus, […], →OCLC, part I (Within the Rules), page 217:",
"text": "The room was half full: there were, […] poets not yet in limbo; authors who were still able to pay for their lodgings; young fellows whose creditors were still forbearing; […]",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1894, Arthur [George Frederick] Griffiths, “Commonplace Criminals”, in Secrets of the Prison-house: Or Gaol Studies and Sketches […], volume II, London: Chapman and Hall, →OCLC, page 144:",
"text": "Blind Thaddeus O'Gorman was soon sent to limbo, safely secured in the police lock-up at Green Skipperton, whence he was removed next day to the nearest gaol, there to await trial at the next assize.",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Jail, prison; (countable) a jail cell or lockup."
],
"id": "en-limbo-en-noun-LmOBF452",
"links": [
[
"Jail",
"jail#Noun"
],
[
"prison",
"prison#Noun"
],
[
"jail cell",
"jail cell"
],
[
"lockup",
"lockup"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(by extension)",
"(slang, archaic, uncountable) Jail, prison; (countable) a jail cell or lockup."
],
"tags": [
"archaic",
"broadly",
"slang",
"uncountable"
]
},
{
"categories": [],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1682, [Nahum Tate; John Dryden], The Second Part of Absalom and Achitophel. A Poem. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 4:",
"text": "Nor quite of future Povv'r himſelf bereft, / But Limbo's large for Unbelievers left.",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Synonym of Hades or Hell"
],
"id": "en-limbo-en-noun-XyrISrxw",
"links": [
[
"Hades",
"Hades#English"
],
[
"Hell",
"Hell"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(by extension)",
"(uncountable, obsolete) Synonym of Hades or Hell"
],
"synonyms": [
{
"tags": [
"synonym",
"synonym-of"
],
"word": "Hades or Hell"
}
],
"tags": [
"broadly",
"obsolete",
"uncountable"
]
},
{
"categories": [],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1693, [William] Congreve, The Old Batchelour, a Comedy. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Peter Buck, […], →OCLC, Act II, page 11:",
"text": "[…] I let him have all my ready Mony to redeem his great Svvord from Limbo— […]",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Synonym of pawn (“the state of something being held as security for a loan, or as a pledge”)"
],
"id": "en-limbo-en-noun-kf3H7vIZ",
"links": [
[
"pawn",
"pawn#English"
],
[
"held",
"hold#Verb"
],
[
"security",
"security"
],
[
"loan",
"loan#Noun"
],
[
"pledge",
"pledge#Noun"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(by extension)",
"(uncountable, obsolete) Synonym of pawn (“the state of something being held as security for a loan, or as a pledge”)"
],
"synonyms": [
{
"extra": "the state of something being held as security for a loan, or as a pledge",
"tags": [
"synonym",
"synonym-of"
],
"word": "pawn"
}
],
"tags": [
"broadly",
"obsolete",
"uncountable"
]
},
{
"categories": [
{
"kind": "topical",
"langcode": "en",
"name": "Artillery",
"orig": "en:Artillery",
"parents": [
"Weapons",
"Hunting",
"Military",
"Tools",
"Human activity",
"Society",
"Technology",
"Human behaviour",
"All topics",
"Human",
"Fundamental"
],
"source": "w"
},
{
"kind": "topical",
"langcode": "en",
"name": "Military",
"orig": "en:Military",
"parents": [
"Society",
"All topics",
"Fundamental"
],
"source": "w"
},
{
"kind": "topical",
"langcode": "en",
"name": "Nautical",
"orig": "en:Nautical",
"parents": [
"Transport",
"All topics",
"Fundamental"
],
"source": "w"
}
],
"glosses": [
"A type of antisubmarine mortar installed on naval vessels."
],
"id": "en-limbo-en-noun-YbpDNpjA",
"links": [
[
"military",
"military"
],
[
"nautical",
"nautical"
],
[
"weaponry",
"weaponry"
],
[
"type",
"type#Noun"
],
[
"antisubmarine",
"antisubmarine"
],
[
"mortar",
"mortar#Noun"
],
[
"installed",
"install#Verb"
],
[
"naval",
"naval"
],
[
"vessels",
"vessel#Noun"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(countable, military, nautical, weaponry) A type of antisubmarine mortar installed on naval vessels."
],
"tags": [
"countable"
],
"topics": [
"engineering",
"government",
"military",
"natural-sciences",
"nautical",
"physical-sciences",
"politics",
"tools",
"transport",
"war",
"weaponry"
],
"translations": [
{
"_dis1": "10 1 4 4 2 78",
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "type of antisubmarine mortar installed on naval vessels",
"word": "Limbo"
}
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈlɪmbəʊ/",
"tags": [
"Received-Pronunciation"
]
},
{
"audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-limbo.wav",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/cd/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/cd/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav.ogg"
},
{
"ipa": "/ˈlɪmboʊ/",
"tags": [
"General-American"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ˈlɪmboː/",
"tags": [
"Caribbean"
]
},
{
"rhymes": "-ɪmbəʊ"
}
],
"synonyms": [
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
"topics": [
"weapon",
"weaponry",
"military",
"tools",
"engineering",
"physical-sciences",
"natural-sciences",
"war",
"government",
"politics"
],
"word": "Limbo"
}
],
"word": "limbo"
}
{
"etymology_number": 1,
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*leb-"
},
"expansion": "",
"name": "root"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "noun"
},
"expansion": "noun",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "enm",
"3": "limbo"
},
"expansion": "Middle English limbo",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la",
"3": "limbō"
},
"expansion": "Latin limbō",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "ablative"
},
"expansion": "ablative",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "singular"
},
"expansion": "singular",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "1"
},
"expansion": "¹",
"name": "sup"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "1"
},
"expansion": "¹",
"name": "sup"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*lemb-",
"t": "to hang limply or loosely"
},
"expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *lemb- (“to hang limply or loosely”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*leb-",
"t": "to hang down loosely (?)"
},
"expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *leb- (“to hang down loosely (?)”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "limp"
},
"expansion": "Doublet of limp",
"name": "doublet"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "verb"
},
"expansion": "verb",
"name": "glossary"
}
],
"etymology_text": "The noun is derived from Middle English limbo, lymbo (“place where innocent souls exist temporarily until they can enter heaven”), from Latin limbō, the ablative singular of limbus (“border, edge; hem; fringe, tassel”) (notably in expressions like in limbō (“in limbo”) and e limbō (“out of limbo”)); further etymology uncertain, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *lemb- (“to hang limply or loosely”), from Proto-Indo-European *leb- (“to hang down loosely (?)”). Doublet of limp.\nThe verb is derived from the noun.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "limbos",
"tags": [
"present",
"singular",
"third-person"
]
},
{
"form": "limboing",
"tags": [
"participle",
"present"
]
},
{
"form": "limboed",
"tags": [
"participle",
"past"
]
},
{
"form": "limboed",
"tags": [
"past"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "limbo (third-person singular simple present limbos, present participle limboing, simple past and past participle limboed)",
"name": "en-verb"
}
],
"hyphenation": [
"lim‧bo"
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "verb",
"senses": [
{
"categories": [],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1849, Herman Melville, “Wherein Babbalanja Broaches a Diabolical Theory, and, in His Own Person, Proves it”, in Mardi: And a Voyage Thither. […], volume I, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 364:",
"text": "[A]s your doctrine is exceedingly evil, by Yamjamma's theory it follows, that you must be proportionably bedeviled; and since it harms others, your devil is of the number of those whom it is best to limbo; and since he is one of those that can be limboed, limboed he shall be in you.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1988 October, Jack Womack, chapter 5, in Terraplane […], New York, N.Y.: Grove Press, →ISBN, page 102:",
"text": "\"If a fellow of ours isn't uncovered we may be limboed here till—\" Till when? Till we were born again? I wished not to wonder just then. \"Whenever.\"",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1992, Yusef Komunyakaa, “Blackberries”, in Magic City, Middletown, Conn.: Wesleyan University Press, →ISBN, page 27:",
"text": "An hour later, beside City Limits Road / I balanced, a gleaming can in each hand, / Limboed between worlds, repeating one dollar.",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To place (someone or something) in an in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion which results in deadlock, delay, or some other unresolved status."
],
"id": "en-limbo-en-verb-RVy50U5F",
"links": [
[
"place",
"place#Verb"
],
[
"in-between",
"in-between"
],
[
"condition",
"condition#Noun"
],
[
"state",
"state#Noun"
],
[
"neglect",
"neglect#Noun"
],
[
"oblivion",
"oblivion"
],
[
"results",
"result#Verb"
],
[
"deadlock",
"deadlock#Noun"
],
[
"delay",
"delay#Noun"
],
[
"unresolved",
"unresolved"
],
[
"status",
"status"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive, rare) To place (someone or something) in an in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion which results in deadlock, delay, or some other unresolved status."
],
"tags": [
"rare",
"transitive"
],
"translations": [
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "to place (someone or something) in an in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"word": "ajaa paitsioon"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "to place (someone or something) in an in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"word": "in der Luft hängen lassen"
}
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈlɪmbəʊ/",
"tags": [
"Received-Pronunciation"
]
},
{
"audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-limbo.wav",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/cd/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav.mp3",
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},
{
"ipa": "/ˈlɪmboʊ/",
"tags": [
"General-American"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ˈlɪmboː/",
"tags": [
"Caribbean"
]
},
{
"rhymes": "-ɪmbəʊ"
}
],
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}
{
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"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
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"2": "Origin uncertain"
},
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"name": "uncertain"
},
{
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{
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"name": "glossary"
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],
"etymology_text": "Origin uncertain; possibly an alteration of limber (“bendable, flexible, pliant”) with the ending of the word respelled to represent a Caribbean English pronunciation.\nIt is unclear whether the verb is derived from the noun, or the noun is derived from the verb; the noun is attested slightly earlier.",
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{
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"tags": [
"plural"
]
}
],
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"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "noun",
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
{
"kind": "topical",
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"orig": "en:Dances",
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{
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"Entry maintenance"
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{
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"kind": "other",
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"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
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"parents": [],
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},
{
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"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Russian translations",
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"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "20 5 12 5 5 7 15 3 6 22",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Welsh translations",
"parents": [],
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],
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{
"ref": "1962 October, Jan Sheldon [pseudonym; Kal Mann], Billy Strange (lyrics and music), “Limbo Rock”, in Limbo Party, performed by Chubby Checker:",
"text": "Every limbo boy and girl / All around the limbo world / Gonna do the limbo rock / All around the limbo clock / Jack be limbo, Jack be quick / Jack go under limbo stick / All around the limbo clock / Hey, let's do the limbo rock",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1992, Susan Farewell, “The United States Virgin Islands”, in Alan Tucker, editor, The Berlitz Travellers Guide to the Caribbean 1993, New York, N.Y., Oxford, Oxfordshire: Berlitz Publishing Company, →ISBN, →ISSN, page 140:",
"text": "At night steel-band and calypso shows liven up many of the island's larger hotels. If you're not up for watching limbos, bottle dancing, and fire eating, your best bet might be a leisurely dinner before settling down on chaise longues around your hotel's pool with a couple of fruity concoctions.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "2016, Linda Parker Hamilton, “Games in the Outdoors”, in Camping Activity Book for Families; The Kid-tested Guide to Fun in the Outdoors, Guilford, Conn., Helena, Mont.: FalconGuides, Rowman & Littlefield, →ISBN, page 122, column 2:",
"text": "Limbo is a traditional popular dance contest that originated on the island of Trinidad. It got its name in the 1950s, but the limbo dates back to the 1800s in Trinidad. […] R&B singer-songwriter Chubby Checker, who popularized the Twist, also popularized the limbo dance and the phrase \"How low can you go?\" The world record for the lowest limbo dance is only 8.5 inches above the ground!",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"A competitive dance originating from Trinidad and Tobago in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards. The bar is lowered with each round, and the competition is won by the dancer who passes under the bar in the lowest position without dislodging it or falling down."
],
"id": "en-limbo-en-noun-en:dance",
"links": [
[
"dance",
"dance#Noun"
],
[
"competitive",
"competitive"
],
[
"originating",
"originate"
],
[
"Trinidad and Tobago",
"Trinidad and Tobago"
],
[
"dancer",
"dancer"
],
[
"take turns",
"take turns"
],
[
"cross",
"cross#Verb"
],
[
"horizontal",
"horizontal#Adjective"
],
[
"bar",
"bar#Noun"
],
[
"bending",
"bend#Verb"
],
[
"backwards",
"backwards#Adverb"
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[
"lowered",
"lower#Verb"
],
[
"round",
"round#Noun"
],
[
"competition",
"competition"
],
[
"won",
"win#Verb"
],
[
"passes",
"pass#Verb"
],
[
"lowest",
"low#Adjective"
],
[
"position",
"position#Noun"
],
[
"dislodging",
"dislodge"
],
[
"falling down",
"fall down"
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],
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"(dance, also attributively) A competitive dance originating from Trinidad and Tobago in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards. The bar is lowered with each round, and the competition is won by the dancer who passes under the bar in the lowest position without dislodging it or falling down."
],
"senseid": [
"en:dance"
],
"tags": [
"also",
"attributive"
],
"topics": [
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"dancing",
"hobbies",
"lifestyle",
"sports"
],
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{
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"roman": "línbōwǔ",
"sense": "competitive dance in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards",
"word": "林波舞"
},
{
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "competitive dance in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "limbo"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "competitive dance in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards",
"word": "limbo"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "competitive dance in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "limbo"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "competitive dance in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards",
"word": "limbó"
},
{
"code": "ko",
"lang": "Korean",
"roman": "rimbo",
"sense": "competitive dance in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards",
"word": "림보"
},
{
"code": "mr",
"lang": "Marathi",
"roman": "limbo",
"sense": "competitive dance in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "लिम्बो"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "límbo",
"sense": "competitive dance in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "ли́мбо"
},
{
"code": "cy",
"lang": "Welsh",
"sense": "competitive dance in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "limbo"
}
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
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"tags": [
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},
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{
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},
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},
{
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],
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{
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"singular",
"third-person"
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},
{
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"present"
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},
{
"form": "limboed",
"tags": [
"participle",
"past"
]
},
{
"form": "limboed",
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"past"
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}
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"lang_code": "en",
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{
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],
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}
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1967 November 24, “Miscellany: Stoop to Conquer”, in George P. Hunt, editor, Life, volume 63, number 21, Chicago, Ill., New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 124:",
"text": "Steve Becker was rolling around with the other skaters at the Pismo Beach, Calif. roller rink one day when it was announced that there would be a limbo contest. […] Steve had his friends set the bar lower and lower while he got flatter and flatter, until finally, at just over a foot and almost spread-eagled, he reached his limboing limit.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1993 May–June, Kathleen Ring, “Coming Attractions”, in Snow Country: The Year-round Magazine of Skiing, Mountain Sports & Living, volume 6, number 3, Trumbull, Conn.: NYT Sports/Leisure Magazines, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 68, column 3:",
"text": "The race begins at Alyeska Resort with an alpine skiing leg. It then proceeds through a downhill sprint, an in-line skate, a mountain bike ride, a 5K run, a wheelchair obstacle course and, if all that wasn't enough, a three-legged race in which participants chug a beer or soda before limboing under the tape.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "2016, Linda Parker Hamilton, “Games in the Outdoors”, in Camping Activity Book for Families; The Kid-tested Guide to Fun in the Outdoors, Guilford, Conn., Helena, Mont.: FalconGuides, Rowman & Littlefield, →ISBN, page 122:",
"text": "After each player goes under once, the bar is lowered about an inch. Players keep limboing under the limbo stick as it gets lower and lower. If you touch the stick with any part of your body, you're out. The last person left is the winner.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "2020 January 28, Giselle Renarde, “Limbo Rock (Chubby Checker)”, in Play It on My Radio: A Diary in Music, [Los Gatos, Calif.]: [Smashwords], published 2021, →ISBN, page 171:",
"text": "Anyway, one year we had a party in our unfinished basement. All I remember about it is that we limboed on bare concrete. Good times!",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To dance the limbo (etymology 2, noun sense 1)."
],
"id": "en-limbo-en-verb-kDcIHgx1",
"links": [
[
"dance",
"dance#Noun"
],
[
"dance",
"dance#Verb"
],
[
"limbo",
"limbo#Noun 2"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(dance) To dance the limbo (etymology 2, noun sense 1)."
],
"tags": [
"intransitive"
],
"topics": [
"dance",
"dancing",
"hobbies",
"lifestyle",
"sports"
],
"translations": [
{
"_dis1": "100 0",
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "to dance the limbo",
"word": "limbota"
}
]
},
{
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{
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"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "16 4 11 3 3 10 19 2 4 29",
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"name": "Entries with translation boxes",
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"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "6 4 0 1 9 3 8 1 3 3 8 1 2 10 10 9 10 2 0 2 0 0 2 3",
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{
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{
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"kind": "other",
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}
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1990 March 26, “Low Motion: Technology Firms Dip, Pivot as Investors Drum Up Profits”, in Bill Laberis, editor, Computerworld: The Newsweekly of Information Systems Management, volume XXIV, number 13, Framingham, Mass.: CW Communications, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 7, column 3:",
"text": "How low can you go? Technology stocks limboed lower and lower last week as investors danced to the profit-taking beat.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1994, Lois Ruby, “No Nancy Drews”, in Steal Away Home (Aladdin Historical Fiction), New York, N.Y.: Aladdin Paperbacks, published January 1999, →ISBN, page 41:",
"text": "Ahn slept over on Friday night, and as soon as the parents were asleep, Dana and Ahn limboed under the criss-cross barriers into the secret chamber.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1995 November, Jeff Rovin with created by Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik, “Tuesday, 12:26 A.M., Helsinki”, in Tom Clancy’s Op-Center: Mirror Image (Tom Clancy’s Op-Center), New York, N.Y.: Berkley Books, →ISBN:",
"text": "[T]he Private […] limboed to his seat [in a mini-submarine], thrusting his chest up and twisting to the right, one arm behind him, steadying himself on the chair as he slid in.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "2011 May 13, David Lochbaum (witness), “Statement of Mr. David Lochbaum, Director, Nuclear Safety Project, Union of Concerned Scientists”, in Nuclear Energy Risk Management: Hearing before the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, Joint with the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First Session […] (Serial No. 122-18), Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, →ISBN, page 199:",
"text": "[W]e find that the NRC does a very good job at setting the safety bar at the right height. […] They don't do a very good job of enforcing those regulations. Too many plant owners are limboing beneath the safety bar for too long, putting Americans at higher risk, and additionally driving the costs of nuclear power upwards inexplicably.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "2012 September 24, Anthony Linick, “June 2007”, in A Doggy Day in London Town: Life among the Dog People of Paddington Rec, volume IV, Bloomington, Ind.: AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 27:",
"text": "Daisy-Mae [a dog] also distinguishes herself by limboing under the picnic ground fence. I have to go back in order to use the gate into this spot, where I can retrieve the little madam.",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Often followed by under: to pass under something, especially while bending backwards."
],
"id": "en-limbo-en-verb-ykAs0eQi",
"links": [
[
"under",
"under#Preposition"
],
[
"pass",
"pass#Verb"
],
[
"bending",
"bend#Verb"
],
[
"backwards",
"backwards#Adverb"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(by extension, also figuratively) Often followed by under: to pass under something, especially while bending backwards."
],
"tags": [
"also",
"broadly",
"figuratively",
"intransitive"
],
"translations": [
{
"_dis1": "1 99",
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "to pass under something, especially while bending backwards",
"word": "limbota"
}
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈlɪmbəʊ/",
"tags": [
"Received-Pronunciation"
]
},
{
"audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-limbo.wav",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/cd/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav.mp3",
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},
{
"ipa": "/ˈlɪmboʊ/",
"tags": [
"General-American"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ˈlɪmboː/",
"tags": [
"Caribbean"
]
},
{
"rhymes": "-ɪmbəʊ"
}
],
"wikipedia": [
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],
"word": "limbo"
}
{
"categories": [
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"English entries with incorrect language header",
"English intransitive verbs",
"English lemmas",
"English nouns",
"English nouns with irregular plurals",
"English terms derived from Latin",
"English terms derived from Middle English",
"English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
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"English terms with unknown etymologies",
"English uncountable nouns",
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"Pages with 7 entries",
"Pages with entries",
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"Rhymes:English/ɪmbəʊ/2 syllables",
"Terms with Armenian translations",
"Terms with Bulgarian translations",
"Terms with Catalan translations",
"Terms with Czech translations",
"Terms with Dutch translations",
"Terms with Finnish translations",
"Terms with French translations",
"Terms with German translations",
"Terms with Hungarian translations",
"Terms with Japanese translations",
"Terms with Korean translations",
"Terms with Macedonian translations",
"Terms with Mandarin translations",
"Terms with Marathi translations",
"Terms with Middle English translations",
"Terms with Polish translations",
"Terms with Portuguese translations",
"Terms with Russian translations",
"Terms with Slovak translations",
"Terms with Spanish translations",
"Terms with Welsh translations",
"en:Afterlife"
],
"derived": [
{
"word": "development limbo"
},
{
"word": "limbolike"
},
{
"word": "limbo set"
}
],
"etymology_number": 1,
"etymology_templates": [
{
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"2": "ine-pro",
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"expansion": "",
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{
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},
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{
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"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
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"2": "la",
"3": "limbō"
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"expansion": "Latin limbō",
"name": "der"
},
{
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},
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{
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{
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{
"args": {
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},
"expansion": "¹",
"name": "sup"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*lemb-",
"t": "to hang limply or loosely"
},
"expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *lemb- (“to hang limply or loosely”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*leb-",
"t": "to hang down loosely (?)"
},
"expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *leb- (“to hang down loosely (?)”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "limp"
},
"expansion": "Doublet of limp",
"name": "doublet"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "verb"
},
"expansion": "verb",
"name": "glossary"
}
],
"etymology_text": "The noun is derived from Middle English limbo, lymbo (“place where innocent souls exist temporarily until they can enter heaven”), from Latin limbō, the ablative singular of limbus (“border, edge; hem; fringe, tassel”) (notably in expressions like in limbō (“in limbo”) and e limbō (“out of limbo”)); further etymology uncertain, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *lemb- (“to hang limply or loosely”), from Proto-Indo-European *leb- (“to hang down loosely (?)”). Doublet of limp.\nThe verb is derived from the noun.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "limbos",
"tags": [
"plural"
]
},
{
"form": "limboes",
"tags": [
"plural"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "~",
"2": "+",
"3": "es"
},
"expansion": "limbo (countable and uncountable, plural limbos or limboes)",
"name": "en-noun"
}
],
"hyphenation": [
"lim‧bo"
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "noun",
"related": [
{
"word": "hell"
},
{
"word": "paradise"
},
{
"word": "purgatory"
}
],
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
"English countable nouns",
"English terms with quotations",
"English uncountable nouns",
"en:Roman Catholicism"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1528 October 12 (Gregorian calendar), William Tyndale, “William Tyndale other wise Called William Hychins vnto the Reader”, in The Obediẽce of a Christen Man […], [Antwerp]: [Johannes Hoochstraten], →OCLC, folio xix, recto:",
"text": "Of vvhat texte thou proveſt hell / vvill a nother prove purgatory / a nother lymbo patrum / and a nother the aſſumpcion of oure ladi: And a nother ſhall prove of the ſame texte that an Ape hath a tayle.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "c. 1588–1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Most Lamentable Romaine Tragedie of Titus Andronicus: […] (First Quarto), London: […] Iohn Danter, and are to be sold by Edward White & Thomas Millington, […], published 1594, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:",
"text": "Oh vvhat a ſimpathie of vvoe is this, / As farre from helpe, as Lymbo is from bliſſe.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1605, [Thomas Heywood], If You Know Not Me, You Know No Bodie: Or, The Troubles of Queene Elizabeth, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot] for Nathaniel Butter, published 1606, →OCLC, signature D2, recto:",
"text": "VVith all our heart, fare-vvell, fare-vvell, / I am freed from Lymbo, to be ſent to hell.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1626 November 15 (Gregorian calendar), John Donne, “The Third of My Prebend Sermons upon My Five Psalms. Sermon LXVII. Preached at St. Paul’s, November 5, 1626.”, in Henry Alford, editor, The Works of John Donne, D.D., […], volume III, London: John W[illiam] Parker, […], published 1839, →OCLC, page 183:",
"text": "And they who have multiplied hells unto us, and made more hells than God hath made, more by their two limboes, (one for fathers, another for children) and one purgatory, have yet made their new hells more of the nature of heaven than of hell.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1992, William R. LaFleur, “Jizō at the Crosswords”, in Liquid Life: Abortion and Buddhism in Japan, Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, →ISBN, part 1 (Original Concepts), page 57:",
"text": "Limbo, or more exactly the notion of two different limbos within Christendom, was also an invention. Many medieval Christians had difficulty accepting the idea of eternal punishment meted out to two categories of persons who, on strictly technical grounds, were \"outside\" the Church and otherwise quite beyond the pale. The first category embraced wise and just people who died before the coming of Christ, and the second included all infants born within Christendom but, unfortunately, unbaptized at the time of their death.",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"A speculation, thought possibly to be on the edge of the bottomless pit of Hell, where the souls of innocent deceased people might exist temporarily until they can enter heaven, specifically those of the saints who died before the advent of Jesus Christ (who occupy the limbo patrum or limbo of the patriarchs or fathers) and those of unbaptized infants (who occupy the limbo infantum or limbo of the infants); (countable) the possible place where each category of souls might exist, regarded separately."
],
"links": [
[
"Roman Catholicism",
"Roman Catholicism"
],
[
"edge",
"edge#Noun"
],
[
"bottomless pit",
"bottomless pit"
],
[
"Hell",
"Hell"
],
[
"souls",
"soul#Noun"
],
[
"innocent",
"innocent#Adjective"
],
[
"deceased",
"deceased#Adjective"
],
[
"people",
"person#Noun"
],
[
"exist",
"exist"
],
[
"temporarily",
"temporarily"
],
[
"enter",
"enter#Verb"
],
[
"heaven",
"heaven"
],
[
"saints",
"saint#Noun"
],
[
"died",
"die#Verb"
],
[
"advent",
"advent"
],
[
"Jesus Christ",
"Jesus Christ"
],
[
"occupy",
"occupy"
],
[
"patriarch",
"patriarch"
],
[
"fathers",
"father#Noun"
],
[
"unbaptized",
"unbaptized"
],
[
"infants",
"infant#Noun"
],
[
"category",
"category"
],
[
"regarded",
"regard#Verb"
],
[
"separately",
"separately"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(Roman Catholicism, uncountable) A speculation, thought possibly to be on the edge of the bottomless pit of Hell, where the souls of innocent deceased people might exist temporarily until they can enter heaven, specifically those of the saints who died before the advent of Jesus Christ (who occupy the limbo patrum or limbo of the patriarchs or fathers) and those of unbaptized infants (who occupy the limbo infantum or limbo of the infants); (countable) the possible place where each category of souls might exist, regarded separately."
],
"senseid": [
"en:Roman Catholicism"
],
"tags": [
"uncountable"
],
"topics": [
"Catholicism",
"Christianity",
"Roman-Catholicism"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English countable nouns",
"English terms with quotations",
"English terms with usage examples",
"English uncountable nouns"
],
"examples": [
{
"text": "My passport application has been stuck in bureaucratic limbo for two weeks.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"ref": "1642, Tho[mas] Browne, “The First Part”, in Religio Medici. […], 4th edition, London: […] E. Cotes for Andrew Crook […], published 1656, →OCLC, section 54, page 115:",
"text": "It is hard to place thoſe ſoules in Hell vvhoſe vvorthy lives doe teach us vertue on earth; methinks amongſt thoſe many ſubdiviſions of hel, there might have been one Limbo left for theſe: […]",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1642 April, John Milton, An Apology for Smectymnuus; republished in A Complete Collection of the Historical, Political, and Miscellaneous Works of John Milton, […], volume I, Amsterdam [actually London: s.n.], 1698, →OCLC, page 178:",
"text": "Proceeding further, I am met vvith a vvhole ging of vvords and phraſes not mine, for he hath maim'd them, and like a ſlye depraver mangl'd them in this his vvicked Limbo, vvorſe then the ghoſt of Deiphobus appear'd to his friend Æneas.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1644, John Milton, Areopagitica; a Speech of Mr. John Milton for the Liberty of Unlicenc’d Printing, to the Parlament of England, London: [s.n.], →OCLC, page 9:",
"text": "[T]hat myſterious iniquity provokt and troubl'd at the firſt entrance of Reformation, ſought out nevv limbo's and nevv hells vvherein they might include our Booke alſo vvithin the number of their damned.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 489 and 492–496:",
"text": "[T]hen might ye ſee / […] / Indulgences, Diſpenſes, Pardons, Bulls, / The ſport of Winds: all theſe upwhirld aloft / Fly o're the backſide of the World farr off / Into a Limbo large and broad, ſince calld / The Paradiſe of Fools, […]",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1712 February 20 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “SATURDAY, February 9, 1711–1712”, in The Spectator, number 297; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume III, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 481:",
"text": "[…] [John] Milton has interwoven in the texture of his fable, some particulars which do not seem to have probability enough for an epic poem, particularly in the actions which he ascribes to Sin and Death, and the picture he draws of the ‘Limbo of Vanity,’ with other passages in the second book.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1831, Thomas Carlyle, “The World out of Clothes”, in Sartor Resartus: The Life and Opinions of Herr Teufelsdröckh. […], London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, 1st book, page 34:",
"text": "Society sails through the Infinitude on Cloth, as on a Faust's Mantle, or rather like the Sheet of clean and unclean beasts in the Apostle's Dream; and without such Sheet or Mantle, would sink to endless depths, or mount to inane limboes, and in either case be no more.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1839 June 15 (date written), John Sterling, “Clifton”, in Thomas Carlyle, The Life of John Sterling, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1851, →OCLC, part II, page 241:",
"text": "As yet my books are lying as ghost books, in a limbo on the banks of a certain Bristolian Styx, humanly speaking, a Canal; […]",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1881 April 23, “Lord Beaconsfield and Homœpathy”, in George F[rederick] Shrady [Sr.], editor, The Medical Record: A Weekly Journal of Medicine and Surgery, volume 19, New York, N.Y.: William Wood & Co. […], →OCLC, page 466, column 1:",
"text": "Homœpathy, so-called, is an unutterable humbug, and is to be consigned to the eternal Limbos of the Unblessed—where, indeed, it is already for the most part gone.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1896, Honoré de Balzac, translated by Ernest Dowson, La Fille aux Yeux d’Or [The Girl with the Golden Eyes], London: Leonard Smithers […], →OCLC, page 95:",
"text": "[U]rged beyond that line where the soul is mistress over herself, he lost himself in those delicious limboes, which the vulgar call so foolishly \"the imaginary regions.\"",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "a. 1899 (date written), William Cowper Brann, “Talmage the Turgid”, in The Complete Works of Brann the Iconoclast, volume I, New York, N.Y.: The Brann Publishers, published 1919, page 200:",
"text": "His [Thomas De Witt Talmage's] so-called \"sermons\" are but fragmentary and usually ignorant allusions to things in general. He seldom or never encroaches upon the realms of science and philosophy, although he frequently attempts it, and evidently imagines that he is succeeding admirably, when he is but sloshing around, like a drunken comet that is chiefly tail, in inane limboes.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1997, Joy Ann James, “Black Feminism: Liberation Limbos and Existence in Gray”, in Lewis R[icardo] Gordon, editor, Existence in Black: An Anthology of Black Existential Philosophy, New York, N.Y., London: Routledge, →ISBN, part IV (Black Existence and Black Liberation), page 216:",
"text": "Like unbaptized children and the non-Christian righteous, black feminisms have been relegated to an outer realm where, while not exactly punished for their sins, they are ghettoized for an alleged poor timing and inability to encounter the \"larger paradigms\" undergirding existence. Women from oppressed peoples routinely find themselves in liberation limbos.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "2021 May 5, Philip Haigh, “I Think We Need Better than This from the Rail Industry”, in Rail, number 930, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 51:",
"text": "But the railway is in limbo, paralysed by indecision. Let's have some clarity.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "2022 October 7, Jim Waterson, “Legal action by Doreen Lawrence and Prince Harry could mire Daily Mail for years”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-03-14:",
"text": "The bigger worry for the Mail is that, if any of the claims are successful, it could open the door for other cases against the newspaper that could leave it in legal limbo for years.",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Chiefly preceded by in: any in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion which results in deadlock, delay, or some other unresolved status."
],
"links": [
[
"in",
"in#Preposition"
],
[
"in-between",
"in-between"
],
[
"condition",
"condition#Noun"
],
[
"state",
"state#Noun"
],
[
"neglect",
"neglect#Noun"
],
[
"oblivion",
"oblivion"
],
[
"results",
"result#Verb"
],
[
"deadlock",
"deadlock#Noun"
],
[
"delay",
"delay#Noun"
],
[
"unresolved",
"unresolved"
],
[
"status",
"status"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(by extension)",
"(countable, uncountable) Chiefly preceded by in: any in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion which results in deadlock, delay, or some other unresolved status."
],
"tags": [
"broadly",
"countable",
"uncountable"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English countable nouns",
"English slang",
"English terms with archaic senses",
"English terms with quotations",
"English uncountable nouns"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii], page 94, column 1:",
"text": "Adr[iana]. VVhere is thy Maſter Dromio? Is he vvell? / S. Dro. [Dromio of Syracuse] No, he's in Tartar limbo, vvorſe then hell: […] / S. Dro. I doe not knovv the matter, hee is reſted [i.e., arrested] on the caſe. / Adr. VVhat is he arreſted? tell me at vvhoſe ſuite?",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii], page 231, column 1:",
"text": "Theſe are the youths that thunder at a Playhouſe, and fight for bitten Apples, that no Audience but the tribulation of Tovver Hill, or the Limbes of Limehouſe, their deare Brothers are able to endure. I haue ſome of 'em in Limbo Patrum, and there they are like to dance theſe three dayes; beſides the running Banquet of tvvo Beadles, that is to come.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1663 (indicated as 1664), [Samuel Butler], “The Second Part of Hudibras. Canto I.”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678, →OCLC; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC, page 108:",
"text": "[O]n she went, / To find the Knight in Limbo pent: / And 'twas not long before she found / Him, and his stout Squire in the Pound; / Both coupled in Inchanted Tether, / By further Leg behind together: […]",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1796 February, Constantia [pseudonym; Judith Sargent Murray], “The Traveller Returned, Concluded”, in The Gleaner. A Miscellaneous Production. […], volume III, number LXXXIV, Boston, Mass.: […] I[saiah] Thomas and E[benezer] T. Andrews, […], →OCLC, act IV, scene iii, page 156:",
"text": "Patr[ick]. […] [S]hame burn my cheek! My maſter, d'ye ſee, had gotten into the limboes; […] / Major C[amden]. But vvhat do you mean by your maſter's being in the limboes, Patrick? / Patr. VVhy, Maſter Tipſtaff here—Isn't it Tipſtaff ye call him?—kidnapped him; that's all, Honey.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1843 April, Thomas Carlyle, “The Abbot’s Troubles”, in Past and Present, American edition, Boston, Mass.: Charles C[offin] Little and James Brown, published 1843, →OCLC, book II (The Ancient Monk), page 100:",
"text": "Abbot Samson […] hurls out a bolt or two of excommunication: lo, one disobedient Monk sits in limbo, excommunicated, with foot-shackles on him, all day; and three more our Abbot has gyved 'with the lesser sentence, to strike fear into the others!'",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1881, Walter Besant, James Rice, “How the Doctor was at Home to His Friends”, in The Chaplain of the Fleet […], volume I, London: Chatto and Windus, […], →OCLC, part I (Within the Rules), page 217:",
"text": "The room was half full: there were, […] poets not yet in limbo; authors who were still able to pay for their lodgings; young fellows whose creditors were still forbearing; […]",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1894, Arthur [George Frederick] Griffiths, “Commonplace Criminals”, in Secrets of the Prison-house: Or Gaol Studies and Sketches […], volume II, London: Chapman and Hall, →OCLC, page 144:",
"text": "Blind Thaddeus O'Gorman was soon sent to limbo, safely secured in the police lock-up at Green Skipperton, whence he was removed next day to the nearest gaol, there to await trial at the next assize.",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Jail, prison; (countable) a jail cell or lockup."
],
"links": [
[
"Jail",
"jail#Noun"
],
[
"prison",
"prison#Noun"
],
[
"jail cell",
"jail cell"
],
[
"lockup",
"lockup"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(by extension)",
"(slang, archaic, uncountable) Jail, prison; (countable) a jail cell or lockup."
],
"tags": [
"archaic",
"broadly",
"slang",
"uncountable"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English terms with obsolete senses",
"English terms with quotations",
"English uncountable nouns"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1682, [Nahum Tate; John Dryden], The Second Part of Absalom and Achitophel. A Poem. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 4:",
"text": "Nor quite of future Povv'r himſelf bereft, / But Limbo's large for Unbelievers left.",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Synonym of Hades or Hell"
],
"links": [
[
"Hades",
"Hades#English"
],
[
"Hell",
"Hell"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(by extension)",
"(uncountable, obsolete) Synonym of Hades or Hell"
],
"synonyms": [
{
"tags": [
"synonym",
"synonym-of"
],
"word": "Hades or Hell"
}
],
"tags": [
"broadly",
"obsolete",
"uncountable"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English terms with obsolete senses",
"English terms with quotations",
"English uncountable nouns"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1693, [William] Congreve, The Old Batchelour, a Comedy. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Peter Buck, […], →OCLC, Act II, page 11:",
"text": "[…] I let him have all my ready Mony to redeem his great Svvord from Limbo— […]",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Synonym of pawn (“the state of something being held as security for a loan, or as a pledge”)"
],
"links": [
[
"pawn",
"pawn#English"
],
[
"held",
"hold#Verb"
],
[
"security",
"security"
],
[
"loan",
"loan#Noun"
],
[
"pledge",
"pledge#Noun"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(by extension)",
"(uncountable, obsolete) Synonym of pawn (“the state of something being held as security for a loan, or as a pledge”)"
],
"synonyms": [
{
"extra": "the state of something being held as security for a loan, or as a pledge",
"tags": [
"synonym",
"synonym-of"
],
"word": "pawn"
}
],
"tags": [
"broadly",
"obsolete",
"uncountable"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English countable nouns",
"en:Artillery",
"en:Military",
"en:Nautical"
],
"glosses": [
"A type of antisubmarine mortar installed on naval vessels."
],
"links": [
[
"military",
"military"
],
[
"nautical",
"nautical"
],
[
"weaponry",
"weaponry"
],
[
"type",
"type#Noun"
],
[
"antisubmarine",
"antisubmarine"
],
[
"mortar",
"mortar#Noun"
],
[
"installed",
"install#Verb"
],
[
"naval",
"naval"
],
[
"vessels",
"vessel#Noun"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(countable, military, nautical, weaponry) A type of antisubmarine mortar installed on naval vessels."
],
"tags": [
"countable"
],
"topics": [
"engineering",
"government",
"military",
"natural-sciences",
"nautical",
"physical-sciences",
"politics",
"tools",
"transport",
"war",
"weaponry"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈlɪmbəʊ/",
"tags": [
"Received-Pronunciation"
]
},
{
"audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-limbo.wav",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/cd/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/cd/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav.ogg"
},
{
"ipa": "/ˈlɪmboʊ/",
"tags": [
"General-American"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ˈlɪmboː/",
"tags": [
"Caribbean"
]
},
{
"rhymes": "-ɪmbəʊ"
}
],
"synonyms": [
{
"topics": [
"weapon",
"weaponry",
"military",
"tools",
"engineering",
"physical-sciences",
"natural-sciences",
"war",
"government",
"politics"
],
"word": "Limbo"
}
],
"translations": [
{
"code": "hy",
"lang": "Armenian",
"roman": "kʻavaran",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "քավարան"
},
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "preddverie na ada",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "преддверие на ада"
},
{
"code": "ca",
"lang": "Catalan",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"masculine",
"plural"
],
"word": "llimbs"
},
{
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "靈薄獄"
},
{
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"roman": "língbáoyù",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "灵薄狱"
},
{
"code": "cs",
"lang": "Czech",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "předpeklí"
},
{
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "limbo"
},
{
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "limbus"
},
{
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "voorgeborchte"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "limbus"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "välitila"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"masculine",
"plural"
],
"word": "limbes"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "Limbus"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "Vorhölle"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "limbus"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "a pokol tornáca"
},
{
"alt": "へんど",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"roman": "hendo",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "辺土"
},
{
"alt": "へんごく",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"roman": "hengoku",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "辺獄"
},
{
"code": "ko",
"lang": "Korean",
"roman": "rimbo",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "림보"
},
{
"code": "ko",
"lang": "Korean",
"roman": "jiog-ui byeonbang",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "지옥의 변방"
},
{
"code": "mk",
"lang": "Macedonian",
"roman": "prédvorje na pékolot",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "пре́дворје на пе́колот"
},
{
"code": "enm",
"lang": "Middle English",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "lymbo"
},
{
"code": "enm",
"lang": "Middle English",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"word": "limbus"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "otchłań"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "limbo"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "limb",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "лимб"
},
{
"code": "sk",
"lang": "Slovak",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "limbus"
},
{
"code": "sk",
"lang": "Slovak",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "predpeklie"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "limbo"
},
{
"code": "cy",
"lang": "Welsh",
"sense": "place where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "limbo"
},
{
"code": "ca",
"lang": "Catalan",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"tags": [
"masculine",
"plural"
],
"word": "llimbs"
},
{
"code": "cs",
"lang": "Czech",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"word": "nevyjasněná situace"
},
{
"code": "cs",
"lang": "Czech",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "nejistota"
},
{
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"tags": [
"masculine",
"neuter"
],
"word": "limbo"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"word": "paitsio"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"word": "limbes"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "Schwebezustand"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"word": "bizonytalanság"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"word": "köztes állapot/helyzet"
},
{
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"roman": "rinbo",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"word": "リンボ"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "próżnia"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "limbo"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "limb",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "лимб"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "podvéšennoje sostojánije",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "подве́шенное состоя́ние"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "limbo"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "type of antisubmarine mortar installed on naval vessels",
"word": "Limbo"
}
],
"word": "limbo"
}
{
"categories": [
"English countable nouns",
"English doublets",
"English entries with incorrect language header",
"English intransitive verbs",
"English lemmas",
"English nouns",
"English nouns with irregular plurals",
"English terms derived from Latin",
"English terms derived from Middle English",
"English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
"English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *leb-",
"English terms inherited from Middle English",
"English terms with unknown etymologies",
"English uncountable nouns",
"English verbs",
"Entries with translation boxes",
"Pages with 7 entries",
"Pages with entries",
"Rhymes:English/ɪmbəʊ",
"Rhymes:English/ɪmbəʊ/2 syllables",
"Terms with Armenian translations",
"Terms with Bulgarian translations",
"Terms with Catalan translations",
"Terms with Czech translations",
"Terms with Dutch translations",
"Terms with Finnish translations",
"Terms with French translations",
"Terms with German translations",
"Terms with Hungarian translations",
"Terms with Japanese translations",
"Terms with Korean translations",
"Terms with Macedonian translations",
"Terms with Mandarin translations",
"Terms with Marathi translations",
"Terms with Middle English translations",
"Terms with Polish translations",
"Terms with Portuguese translations",
"Terms with Russian translations",
"Terms with Slovak translations",
"Terms with Spanish translations",
"Terms with Welsh translations",
"en:Afterlife"
],
"etymology_number": 1,
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*leb-"
},
"expansion": "",
"name": "root"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "noun"
},
"expansion": "noun",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "enm",
"3": "limbo"
},
"expansion": "Middle English limbo",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la",
"3": "limbō"
},
"expansion": "Latin limbō",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "ablative"
},
"expansion": "ablative",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "singular"
},
"expansion": "singular",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "1"
},
"expansion": "¹",
"name": "sup"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "1"
},
"expansion": "¹",
"name": "sup"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*lemb-",
"t": "to hang limply or loosely"
},
"expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *lemb- (“to hang limply or loosely”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*leb-",
"t": "to hang down loosely (?)"
},
"expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *leb- (“to hang down loosely (?)”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "limp"
},
"expansion": "Doublet of limp",
"name": "doublet"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "verb"
},
"expansion": "verb",
"name": "glossary"
}
],
"etymology_text": "The noun is derived from Middle English limbo, lymbo (“place where innocent souls exist temporarily until they can enter heaven”), from Latin limbō, the ablative singular of limbus (“border, edge; hem; fringe, tassel”) (notably in expressions like in limbō (“in limbo”) and e limbō (“out of limbo”)); further etymology uncertain, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *lemb- (“to hang limply or loosely”), from Proto-Indo-European *leb- (“to hang down loosely (?)”). Doublet of limp.\nThe verb is derived from the noun.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "limbos",
"tags": [
"present",
"singular",
"third-person"
]
},
{
"form": "limboing",
"tags": [
"participle",
"present"
]
},
{
"form": "limboed",
"tags": [
"participle",
"past"
]
},
{
"form": "limboed",
"tags": [
"past"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "limbo (third-person singular simple present limbos, present participle limboing, simple past and past participle limboed)",
"name": "en-verb"
}
],
"hyphenation": [
"lim‧bo"
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "verb",
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
"English terms with quotations",
"English terms with rare senses",
"English transitive verbs"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1849, Herman Melville, “Wherein Babbalanja Broaches a Diabolical Theory, and, in His Own Person, Proves it”, in Mardi: And a Voyage Thither. […], volume I, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 364:",
"text": "[A]s your doctrine is exceedingly evil, by Yamjamma's theory it follows, that you must be proportionably bedeviled; and since it harms others, your devil is of the number of those whom it is best to limbo; and since he is one of those that can be limboed, limboed he shall be in you.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1988 October, Jack Womack, chapter 5, in Terraplane […], New York, N.Y.: Grove Press, →ISBN, page 102:",
"text": "\"If a fellow of ours isn't uncovered we may be limboed here till—\" Till when? Till we were born again? I wished not to wonder just then. \"Whenever.\"",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1992, Yusef Komunyakaa, “Blackberries”, in Magic City, Middletown, Conn.: Wesleyan University Press, →ISBN, page 27:",
"text": "An hour later, beside City Limits Road / I balanced, a gleaming can in each hand, / Limboed between worlds, repeating one dollar.",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To place (someone or something) in an in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion which results in deadlock, delay, or some other unresolved status."
],
"links": [
[
"place",
"place#Verb"
],
[
"in-between",
"in-between"
],
[
"condition",
"condition#Noun"
],
[
"state",
"state#Noun"
],
[
"neglect",
"neglect#Noun"
],
[
"oblivion",
"oblivion"
],
[
"results",
"result#Verb"
],
[
"deadlock",
"deadlock#Noun"
],
[
"delay",
"delay#Noun"
],
[
"unresolved",
"unresolved"
],
[
"status",
"status"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive, rare) To place (someone or something) in an in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion which results in deadlock, delay, or some other unresolved status."
],
"tags": [
"rare",
"transitive"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈlɪmbəʊ/",
"tags": [
"Received-Pronunciation"
]
},
{
"audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-limbo.wav",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/cd/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/cd/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav.ogg"
},
{
"ipa": "/ˈlɪmboʊ/",
"tags": [
"General-American"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ˈlɪmboː/",
"tags": [
"Caribbean"
]
},
{
"rhymes": "-ɪmbəʊ"
}
],
"translations": [
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "to place (someone or something) in an in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"word": "ajaa paitsioon"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "to place (someone or something) in an in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion",
"word": "in der Luft hängen lassen"
}
],
"word": "limbo"
}
{
"categories": [
"English countable nouns",
"English entries with incorrect language header",
"English intransitive verbs",
"English lemmas",
"English nouns",
"English terms with unknown etymologies",
"English verbs",
"Entries with translation boxes",
"Pages with 7 entries",
"Pages with entries",
"Rhymes:English/ɪmbəʊ",
"Rhymes:English/ɪmbəʊ/2 syllables",
"Terms with Dutch translations",
"Terms with Finnish translations",
"Terms with French translations",
"Terms with Hungarian translations",
"Terms with Korean translations",
"Terms with Mandarin translations",
"Terms with Marathi translations",
"Terms with Russian translations",
"Terms with Welsh translations",
"en:Afterlife"
],
"etymology_number": 2,
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "Origin uncertain"
},
"expansion": "Origin uncertain",
"name": "uncertain"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "respelled"
},
"expansion": "respelled",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "3"
},
"expansion": "³",
"name": "sup"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "2"
},
"expansion": "²",
"name": "sup"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "verb"
},
"expansion": "verb",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "noun"
},
"expansion": "noun",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "2"
},
"expansion": "²",
"name": "sup"
}
],
"etymology_text": "Origin uncertain; possibly an alteration of limber (“bendable, flexible, pliant”) with the ending of the word respelled to represent a Caribbean English pronunciation.\nIt is unclear whether the verb is derived from the noun, or the noun is derived from the verb; the noun is attested slightly earlier.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "limbos",
"tags": [
"plural"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "limbo (plural limbos)",
"name": "en-noun"
}
],
"hyphenation": [
"lim‧bo"
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "noun",
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
"English terms with quotations",
"en:Dances"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1962 October, Jan Sheldon [pseudonym; Kal Mann], Billy Strange (lyrics and music), “Limbo Rock”, in Limbo Party, performed by Chubby Checker:",
"text": "Every limbo boy and girl / All around the limbo world / Gonna do the limbo rock / All around the limbo clock / Jack be limbo, Jack be quick / Jack go under limbo stick / All around the limbo clock / Hey, let's do the limbo rock",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1992, Susan Farewell, “The United States Virgin Islands”, in Alan Tucker, editor, The Berlitz Travellers Guide to the Caribbean 1993, New York, N.Y., Oxford, Oxfordshire: Berlitz Publishing Company, →ISBN, →ISSN, page 140:",
"text": "At night steel-band and calypso shows liven up many of the island's larger hotels. If you're not up for watching limbos, bottle dancing, and fire eating, your best bet might be a leisurely dinner before settling down on chaise longues around your hotel's pool with a couple of fruity concoctions.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "2016, Linda Parker Hamilton, “Games in the Outdoors”, in Camping Activity Book for Families; The Kid-tested Guide to Fun in the Outdoors, Guilford, Conn., Helena, Mont.: FalconGuides, Rowman & Littlefield, →ISBN, page 122, column 2:",
"text": "Limbo is a traditional popular dance contest that originated on the island of Trinidad. It got its name in the 1950s, but the limbo dates back to the 1800s in Trinidad. […] R&B singer-songwriter Chubby Checker, who popularized the Twist, also popularized the limbo dance and the phrase \"How low can you go?\" The world record for the lowest limbo dance is only 8.5 inches above the ground!",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"A competitive dance originating from Trinidad and Tobago in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards. The bar is lowered with each round, and the competition is won by the dancer who passes under the bar in the lowest position without dislodging it or falling down."
],
"links": [
[
"dance",
"dance#Noun"
],
[
"competitive",
"competitive"
],
[
"originating",
"originate"
],
[
"Trinidad and Tobago",
"Trinidad and Tobago"
],
[
"dancer",
"dancer"
],
[
"take turns",
"take turns"
],
[
"cross",
"cross#Verb"
],
[
"horizontal",
"horizontal#Adjective"
],
[
"bar",
"bar#Noun"
],
[
"bending",
"bend#Verb"
],
[
"backwards",
"backwards#Adverb"
],
[
"lowered",
"lower#Verb"
],
[
"round",
"round#Noun"
],
[
"competition",
"competition"
],
[
"won",
"win#Verb"
],
[
"passes",
"pass#Verb"
],
[
"lowest",
"low#Adjective"
],
[
"position",
"position#Noun"
],
[
"dislodging",
"dislodge"
],
[
"falling down",
"fall down"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(dance, also attributively) A competitive dance originating from Trinidad and Tobago in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards. The bar is lowered with each round, and the competition is won by the dancer who passes under the bar in the lowest position without dislodging it or falling down."
],
"senseid": [
"en:dance"
],
"tags": [
"also",
"attributive"
],
"topics": [
"dance",
"dancing",
"hobbies",
"lifestyle",
"sports"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈlɪmbəʊ/",
"tags": [
"Received-Pronunciation"
]
},
{
"audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-limbo.wav",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/cd/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/cd/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav.ogg"
},
{
"ipa": "/ˈlɪmboʊ/",
"tags": [
"General-American"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ˈlɪmboː/",
"tags": [
"Caribbean"
]
},
{
"rhymes": "-ɪmbəʊ"
}
],
"translations": [
{
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"roman": "línbōwǔ",
"sense": "competitive dance in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards",
"word": "林波舞"
},
{
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "competitive dance in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "limbo"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "competitive dance in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards",
"word": "limbo"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "competitive dance in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "limbo"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "competitive dance in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards",
"word": "limbó"
},
{
"code": "ko",
"lang": "Korean",
"roman": "rimbo",
"sense": "competitive dance in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards",
"word": "림보"
},
{
"code": "mr",
"lang": "Marathi",
"roman": "limbo",
"sense": "competitive dance in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "लिम्बो"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "límbo",
"sense": "competitive dance in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "ли́мбо"
},
{
"code": "cy",
"lang": "Welsh",
"sense": "competitive dance in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "limbo"
}
],
"wikipedia": [
"Caribbean English"
],
"word": "limbo"
}
{
"categories": [
"English countable nouns",
"English entries with incorrect language header",
"English intransitive verbs",
"English lemmas",
"English nouns",
"English terms with unknown etymologies",
"English verbs",
"Entries with translation boxes",
"Pages with 7 entries",
"Pages with entries",
"Rhymes:English/ɪmbəʊ",
"Rhymes:English/ɪmbəʊ/2 syllables",
"Terms with Dutch translations",
"Terms with Finnish translations",
"Terms with French translations",
"Terms with Hungarian translations",
"Terms with Korean translations",
"Terms with Mandarin translations",
"Terms with Marathi translations",
"Terms with Russian translations",
"Terms with Welsh translations",
"en:Afterlife"
],
"etymology_number": 2,
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "Origin uncertain"
},
"expansion": "Origin uncertain",
"name": "uncertain"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "respelled"
},
"expansion": "respelled",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "3"
},
"expansion": "³",
"name": "sup"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "2"
},
"expansion": "²",
"name": "sup"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "verb"
},
"expansion": "verb",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "noun"
},
"expansion": "noun",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "2"
},
"expansion": "²",
"name": "sup"
}
],
"etymology_text": "Origin uncertain; possibly an alteration of limber (“bendable, flexible, pliant”) with the ending of the word respelled to represent a Caribbean English pronunciation.\nIt is unclear whether the verb is derived from the noun, or the noun is derived from the verb; the noun is attested slightly earlier.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "limbos",
"tags": [
"present",
"singular",
"third-person"
]
},
{
"form": "limboing",
"tags": [
"participle",
"present"
]
},
{
"form": "limboed",
"tags": [
"participle",
"past"
]
},
{
"form": "limboed",
"tags": [
"past"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "limbo (third-person singular simple present limbos, present participle limboing, simple past and past participle limboed)",
"name": "en-verb"
}
],
"hyphenation": [
"lim‧bo"
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "verb",
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
"English terms with quotations",
"en:Dances"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1967 November 24, “Miscellany: Stoop to Conquer”, in George P. Hunt, editor, Life, volume 63, number 21, Chicago, Ill., New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 124:",
"text": "Steve Becker was rolling around with the other skaters at the Pismo Beach, Calif. roller rink one day when it was announced that there would be a limbo contest. […] Steve had his friends set the bar lower and lower while he got flatter and flatter, until finally, at just over a foot and almost spread-eagled, he reached his limboing limit.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1993 May–June, Kathleen Ring, “Coming Attractions”, in Snow Country: The Year-round Magazine of Skiing, Mountain Sports & Living, volume 6, number 3, Trumbull, Conn.: NYT Sports/Leisure Magazines, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 68, column 3:",
"text": "The race begins at Alyeska Resort with an alpine skiing leg. It then proceeds through a downhill sprint, an in-line skate, a mountain bike ride, a 5K run, a wheelchair obstacle course and, if all that wasn't enough, a three-legged race in which participants chug a beer or soda before limboing under the tape.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "2016, Linda Parker Hamilton, “Games in the Outdoors”, in Camping Activity Book for Families; The Kid-tested Guide to Fun in the Outdoors, Guilford, Conn., Helena, Mont.: FalconGuides, Rowman & Littlefield, →ISBN, page 122:",
"text": "After each player goes under once, the bar is lowered about an inch. Players keep limboing under the limbo stick as it gets lower and lower. If you touch the stick with any part of your body, you're out. The last person left is the winner.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "2020 January 28, Giselle Renarde, “Limbo Rock (Chubby Checker)”, in Play It on My Radio: A Diary in Music, [Los Gatos, Calif.]: [Smashwords], published 2021, →ISBN, page 171:",
"text": "Anyway, one year we had a party in our unfinished basement. All I remember about it is that we limboed on bare concrete. Good times!",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To dance the limbo (etymology 2, noun sense 1)."
],
"links": [
[
"dance",
"dance#Noun"
],
[
"dance",
"dance#Verb"
],
[
"limbo",
"limbo#Noun 2"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(dance) To dance the limbo (etymology 2, noun sense 1)."
],
"tags": [
"intransitive"
],
"topics": [
"dance",
"dancing",
"hobbies",
"lifestyle",
"sports"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English terms with quotations"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1990 March 26, “Low Motion: Technology Firms Dip, Pivot as Investors Drum Up Profits”, in Bill Laberis, editor, Computerworld: The Newsweekly of Information Systems Management, volume XXIV, number 13, Framingham, Mass.: CW Communications, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 7, column 3:",
"text": "How low can you go? Technology stocks limboed lower and lower last week as investors danced to the profit-taking beat.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1994, Lois Ruby, “No Nancy Drews”, in Steal Away Home (Aladdin Historical Fiction), New York, N.Y.: Aladdin Paperbacks, published January 1999, →ISBN, page 41:",
"text": "Ahn slept over on Friday night, and as soon as the parents were asleep, Dana and Ahn limboed under the criss-cross barriers into the secret chamber.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1995 November, Jeff Rovin with created by Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik, “Tuesday, 12:26 A.M., Helsinki”, in Tom Clancy’s Op-Center: Mirror Image (Tom Clancy’s Op-Center), New York, N.Y.: Berkley Books, →ISBN:",
"text": "[T]he Private […] limboed to his seat [in a mini-submarine], thrusting his chest up and twisting to the right, one arm behind him, steadying himself on the chair as he slid in.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "2011 May 13, David Lochbaum (witness), “Statement of Mr. David Lochbaum, Director, Nuclear Safety Project, Union of Concerned Scientists”, in Nuclear Energy Risk Management: Hearing before the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, Joint with the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First Session […] (Serial No. 122-18), Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, →ISBN, page 199:",
"text": "[W]e find that the NRC does a very good job at setting the safety bar at the right height. […] They don't do a very good job of enforcing those regulations. Too many plant owners are limboing beneath the safety bar for too long, putting Americans at higher risk, and additionally driving the costs of nuclear power upwards inexplicably.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "2012 September 24, Anthony Linick, “June 2007”, in A Doggy Day in London Town: Life among the Dog People of Paddington Rec, volume IV, Bloomington, Ind.: AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 27:",
"text": "Daisy-Mae [a dog] also distinguishes herself by limboing under the picnic ground fence. I have to go back in order to use the gate into this spot, where I can retrieve the little madam.",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Often followed by under: to pass under something, especially while bending backwards."
],
"links": [
[
"under",
"under#Preposition"
],
[
"pass",
"pass#Verb"
],
[
"bending",
"bend#Verb"
],
[
"backwards",
"backwards#Adverb"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(by extension, also figuratively) Often followed by under: to pass under something, especially while bending backwards."
],
"tags": [
"also",
"broadly",
"figuratively",
"intransitive"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈlɪmbəʊ/",
"tags": [
"Received-Pronunciation"
]
},
{
"audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-limbo.wav",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/cd/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/cd/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-limbo.wav.ogg"
},
{
"ipa": "/ˈlɪmboʊ/",
"tags": [
"General-American"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ˈlɪmboː/",
"tags": [
"Caribbean"
]
},
{
"rhymes": "-ɪmbəʊ"
}
],
"translations": [
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "to dance the limbo",
"word": "limbota"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "to pass under something, especially while bending backwards",
"word": "limbota"
}
],
"wikipedia": [
"Caribbean English"
],
"word": "limbo"
}
Download raw JSONL data for limbo meaning in English (52.4kB)
This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-12-15 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-12-04 using wiktextract (8a39820 and 4401a4c). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.
If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.