To persist: such as an aftertaste that lingers.

If you can relate to linger then you are recalling a part of memory that was stemmed at the onset of the memory take up. That is to say..you go to a market stall..recall where it is..the sudden change in atmosphere toward the odours coming from your favorite stall selling hotdogs. You recall the site, the smell, the senses. When asking afterwards what do you recall, you would automatically recall the odour, the site, the cost and the taste. If it was enjoyable then the memory lingers on and will remain with you for as long as your memory acts the way it does. Having lingering in terms of longterm memory lends hands to things later on in life. Think, you could recall the very first time you ate a school dinner..the memory lingers on and gives you more to consider and to talk about.

Do you know the nursery rhyme “Mary Had A Little Lamb”?

And do you remember the verses:

“He followed her to school one day–

That was against the rule;

It made the children laugh and play,

To see a lamb at school.

So the teacher turned him out,

But still he “lingered” near;

And waited patiently about,

Till Mary did appear.”

The connotations of the word “linger” in this rhyme are “remained”, “stayed” and “waited”

It remains. The smell of the boy she’s singing about remains on her own skin, pillows, sheets, etc. For example, if you spray perfume in a closed room in the morning, the smell will still be lingering in the afternoon, when you return to the room.

linger-

remain present although waning or gradually dying;

“Her perfume lingered on”

to remain or stay on in a place longer than is usual or expected, as if from reluctance to leave:

“We lingered awhile after the party.”

to move or act slowly

Hang around.

If they hugged or If she slept with him ……HIs.”Body ordor” on her.