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Limbo

Noun

Definitions

1.NounA speculative place or state, 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); the possible place where each category of souls might exist, regarded separately. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
2.NounChiefly 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.
"My passport application has been stuck in bureaucratic limbo for two weeks."
3.NounChiefly 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.
"My passport application has been stuck in bureaucratic limbo for two weeks."
4.NounJail, prison; a jail cell or lockup.
5.NounSynonym of Hades or Hell.
6.NounSynonym of pawn (“the state of something being held as security for a loan, or as a pledge”).
7.NounA type of antisubmarine mortar installed on naval vessels.
8.VerbTo 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.
9.NounA 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.
10.VerbTo dance the limbo (etymology 2, noun etymology 2, noun sense 1).
11.VerbOften followed by under: to pass under something, especially while bending backwards.
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