limbo

¹

[ lim-boh ]

noun

, plural lim·bos.

1. (often initial capital letter) Roman Catholic Theology. a region on the border of hell or heaven, serving as the abode after death of unbaptized infants limbo of infants and of the righteous who died before the coming of Christ limbo of the fathers, or limbo of the patriarchs.
2. a place or state of oblivion to which persons or things are regarded as being relegated when cast aside, forgotten, past, or out of date:

   My youthful hopes are in the limbo of lost dreams.

3. an intermediate, transitional, or midway state or place.
4. a place or state of imprisonment or confinement.

limbo

²

[ lim-boh ]

noun

, plural lim·bos.

1. a dance from the West Indies, originally for men only, in which the dancer bends backward from the knees and moves with a shuffling step under a horizontal bar that is lowered after each successive pass.

limbo

¹

/ ˈlɪmbəʊ /

noun

1. often capital RC Church the supposed abode of infants dying without baptism and the just who died before Christ
2. an imaginary place for lost, forgotten, or unwanted persons or things
3. an unknown intermediate place or condition between two extremes

   in limbo

4. a prison or confinement

limbo

²

/ ˈlɪmbəʊ /

noun

1. a Caribbean dance in which dancers pass, while leaning backwards, under a bar

limbo

1. In the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church regarding the afterlife, the condition of innocent persons who die without benefit of baptism ; those in limbo do not suffer damnation , but they do not enjoy the presence of God. Limbo means “a bordering place.”

Notes

Figuratively, “limbo” is a state of nonresolution or uncertainty: “Until he receives notice of his new posting, he'll be in limbo.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of limbo¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Medieval Latin phrase in limbō “on hell's border” ( Latin: “on the edge”), from Latin in “in, on” + limbō, ablative of limbus “edge, border”

Origin of limbo²

First recorded in 1955–60; of disputed origin; perhaps compare Jamaican English limba “to bend; easily bending”; limber ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of limbo¹

C14: from Medieval Latin in limbo on the border (of hell)

Origin of limbo²

C20: origin uncertain

Idioms and Phrases

see in limbo .

Example Sentences

Having been at home in the months since then, my classmates and I have entered a period of extreme limbo.

From Ozy

Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto, one of the league’s young stars, tested positive for coronavirus hours before the team’s opening game on July 23, and his status for the season remains in limbo.

From Quartz

When it comes to link building, receiving a nofollow backlink can be a bummer, as your rankings are left in a state of limbo.

From Search Engine Watch

The pandemic has left many migrants in limbo, unable to come into the United States and unable to make a living in Tijuana.

From Voice of San Diego

For many years, Haitian migrants have been stuck in limbo in Tijuana.

From Voice of San Diego

But she also recognizes that it places women who are told that they screened for HPV in a frustrating limbo.

From The Daily Beast

Keeping him in limbo seems to be the preferred punishment for him in the eyes of the Iranian authorities.

From The Daily Beast

The warring courts that left two men in legal limbo and ultimately resolved nothing?

From The Daily Beast

The 26 cases the Center found moved into that legal limbo when the courts sent out letters.

From The Daily Beast

“This is a very difficult period right now—being in limbo,” he admits.

From The Daily Beast

We're stationed out here in this limbo to watch Saturn and report any activity we see coming from there.

From Project Gutenberg

The chamberlain, with an ineffable gesture, wafted the taxi-cab away into some limbo appointed for waiting vehicles.

From Project Gutenberg

He took me up to my own room, and I heard him going out to wake Limbo to harness, and at last heard him driving away in our coach.

From Project Gutenberg

Let the cult of that lusty Titan, the Limpet, sink awhile into the limbo of outworn idolatries.

From Project Gutenberg

One day there came a letter, and I learned that, in a commercial crash at home, my income and my expectations had gone to limbo.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• oblivion