limbos
Dances under bars
Limbos is the plural of limbo—a state of uncertainty or neglect where things remain unresolved.
The word comes from the Catholic theological concept of a realm for unbaptized souls, neither heaven nor hell.
More commonly now, limbos describes situations of indefinite waiting: Their visa applications remained in bureaucratic limbos for months.
The plural also applies to the limbo dance, where participants bend backward to pass under a progressively lowered bar.
Point of beginning
- in-betweenOccupying middle position
- interimProvisional in-between phase
- interludePause between sections
- hiatusBreak in activity
gap · pause · waiting · standby · transition · crossroads · borderline · interstice
Place of temporary suffering
- afterlifeExistence beyond mortality
- soulsImmaterial human essences
- unbaptizedNot ritually initiated
- infantsVery young children
Dante · divine · salvation · damnation · medieval · Catholic · underworld · netherworld
Not firmly known
- indeterminateNot exactly known
- ambiguousHaving multiple interpretations
- nebulousUnclear and formless
- unclearNot easily understood
vague · indefinite · suspended · unresolved · undecided · unsettled · pending · doubtful
threshold
Point of beginning
- in-betweenOccupying middle position
- interimProvisional in-between phase
- interludePause between sections
hiatus · gap · pause · waiting · standby · transition · crossroads · borderline · interstice · interregnum
purgatory
Place of temporary suffering
- afterlifeExistence beyond mortality
- soulsImmaterial human essences
- unbaptizedNot ritually initiated
infants · Dante · divine · salvation · damnation · medieval · Catholic · underworld · netherworld · realm
uncertain
Not firmly known
- indeterminateNot exactly known
- ambiguousHaving multiple interpretations
- nebulousUnclear and formless
unclear · vague · indefinite · suspended · unresolved · undecided · unsettled · pending · doubtful · questionable
backbend
Arching spine rearward
- barDrinking establishment
- poleCylindrical shaft or extremity
- competitionStruggle for supremacy
Caribbean · Trinidad · calypso · party · flexibility · contest · lean · arch · under · music
limboscertainties
Assured truths
resolutions · conclusions · decisions · determinations · certitudes
limbosheavens
Celestial expanse overhead
hells · paradises · belongings · homelands · sanctuaries
limbosheavens
Celestial expanse overhead
hells · paradises · homes · belongings · inclusions
- in limboState of uncertainty
- limbo stick
- career limbo
- limbo danceBackward bend under pole
- legal limboUndetermined official standing
- limbo contestBackward-leaning bar challenge