limbo
1 of 2noun (1)
lim·bo ˈlim-(ˌ)bō 
plural limbos
1
often capitalized : an abode of souls that are according to Roman Catholic theology barred from heaven because of not having received Christian baptism
2
a
: a place or state of restraint or confinement
trapping travelers in an airless limbo
Sam Boal
Sam Boal b
: a place or state of neglect or oblivion
proposals kept in limbo
c
: an intermediate or transitional place or state
the adolescent occupies a special human limbo New Republic
New Republic d
: a state of uncertainty
The graduate was in limbo for a while, trying to decide what to do next.
limbo
2 of 2noun (2)
plural limbos
: a dance or contest that involves bending over backwards and passing under a horizontal pole lowered slightly for each successive pass
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Medieval Latin, ablative of limbus limbo, from Latin, border
Noun (2)
English of Trinidad & Barbados; akin to Jamaican English limba to bend, from English limber entry 2
First Known Use
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
1948, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing limbo
limbos
noun
as in purgatories
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- purgatories
- infernos
- netherworlds
- underworlds
- perditions
- abysses
- pits
- hells
- Pandemoniums
- Gehennas
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- heavens
- blisses
- skies
- paradises
- elysian fields
- above
- empyreans
- nirvanas
- glories
- kingdom comes
- promised lands
- afterlives
- otherworlds
- New Jerusalems
- Sions
- Elysiums
- afterworlds
- Elysia
- hereafters
- happy hunting grounds
- Valhallas
- Zions