The lowdown on limbo

November 20th, 2008 at 07:00am Barry Wood

“Limbus,” Latin for “edge” or “border,” is still used to mean “a distinct border or edging, often of a contrasting color, as of a body organ.”

Most of us are more familiar with a word derived from this edgy concept, “limbo” — and not the dance kind. “Limbo” is “any intermediate, indeterminate state” or “a place or condition of confinement, neglect or oblivion” — not a good place to be.

In certain Christian theologies, says Webster’s, a capitalized Limbo is where the souls of infants and people who led fairly good lives but were still tarred by original sin would reside — forever. In another view, it’s “the temporary abode or state of all holy souls after death, before the coming of Christ.” It’s not hell, but it’s not heaven, either. It could be permanent, it could be temporary.

It’s the ultimate in being on the edge.

As for the dancing limbo, that name probably came from the word “limber,” which you have to be to do it well. The idea is to see how low you can go beneath a bar. In this case, the bar for success is raised by lowering a bar.

But bear in mind: Lower than Limbo is hell.

Entry Filed under: word origins