linger
v.v. to stay in a place longer than necessary because you do not want to leave. It can also describe a smell, feeling, or sound that stays around for a long time.
v. to remain in a place longer than is strictly required, typically due to reluctance to depart. Often used figuratively to describe persistent sensory impressions or emotional states.
The smell of fresh coffee continues to linger in the kitchen.
The guests decided to linger at the table long after the meal was finished to finish their conversation.
Although the storm had passed hours ago, a heavy sense of unease continued to linger over the coastal village as residents assessed the damage.
From Middle English lengeren, frequentative of lengen (“to stay, dwell, tarry”), from Old English lenġan (“to lengthen, delay, extend”), from Proto-West Germanic langijan, from Proto-Germanic langijaną (compare West Frisian lingje (“to linger”), Dutch lengen, German längen, Icelandic lengja (“to lengthen”)), related to the root of English long. Equivalent to linge or long + -er (frequentative verb suffix).
The verb is intransitive and often takes the preposition 'on' or 'over'.