in (also within) a person's fingers: in a person's possession or power; under a person's control. Cf. hand, n. 2. Obsolete.

To protract; also intransitive to linger. Obsolete.

intransitive. To advance or progress slowly and painfully; to be tediously protracted; to become tedious by protraction. to drag on, along: to go…

figurative, chiefly of immaterial things. Of actions or conditions: To be protracted (wearisomely or painfully), to drag on. (Cf. lingering, adj.)