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
limbo
noun
as in purgatory
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- purgatory
- netherworld
- inferno
- underworld
- abyss
- hades
- pit
- hell
- perdition
- Pandemonium
- Gehenna
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- bliss
- paradise
- heaven
- sky
- empyrean
- nirvana
- elysian fields
- promised land
- kingdom come
- above
- glory
- afterlife
- afterworld
- New Jerusalem
- otherworld
- Elysium
- hereafter
- Sion
- Zion
- Valhalla
- happy hunting ground
- Beulah