- long
-
I. adjective
(longer; longest)
Etymology: Middle English long, lang, from Old English; akin to Old High German lang long, Latin longus
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. extending for a considerable distance
b. having greater length than usual <a long corridor> c. having greater height than usual ; tall d. having a greater length than breadth ; elongated e. having a greater length than desirable or necessary <the column is one line too long> f. full-length <long pants> 2. a. having a specified length <six feet long> b. forming the chief linear dimension <the long side of the room> 3. a. extending over a considerable time <a long friendship> b. having a specified duration <two hours long> c. prolonged beyond the usual time <a long look> d. lasting too long ; tedious <a long explanation> 4. a. containing many items in a series <a long list> b. having a specified number of units <300 pages long> c. consisting of a greater number or amount than usual ; large 5. a. of a speech sound having a relatively long duration b. being the member of a pair of similarly spelled vowel or vowel-containing sounds that is descended from a vowel long in duration <long a in fate> <long i in sign> c. of a syllable in prosody (1) of relatively extended duration (2) bearing a stress or accent 6. having the capacity to reach, extend, or travel a considerable distance <a long left jab> <tried to hit the long ball> 7. larger or longer than the standard <a long count by the referee> 8. a. extending far into the future <the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts — H. W. Longfellow> b. extending beyond what is known <a long guess> c. payable after a considerable period <a long note> 9. possessing a high degree or a great deal of something specified ; strong <long on common sense> 10. a. of an unusual degree of difference between the amounts wagered on each side <long odds> b. of or relating to the larger amount wagered <take the long end of the bet> 11. subject to great odds 12. owning or accumulating securities or goods especially in anticipation of an advance in prices <they are now long on wheat> <take a long position in steel> • longness noun II. adverb Date: before 12th century 1. for or during a long time <long a popular hangout> 2. at or to a long distance ; far <long-traveled> 3. for the duration of a specified period <month-long> <all summer long> 4. at a point of time far before or after a specified moment or event <was excited long before the big day> 5. after or beyond a specified or implied time <didn't stay longer than midnight> <said it was no longer possible> 6. for a considerable distance <threw the ball long> 7. in or into a long position (as on a market) III. noun Date: before 12th century 1. a long period of time 2. a long syllable 3. one taking a long position especially in a security or commodity market 4. a. plural long trousers b. a size in clothing for tall men IV. intransitive verb (longed; longing) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English langian; akin to Old High German langēn to long, Old English lang long Date: before 12th century to feel a strong desire or craving especially for something not likely to be attained <they long for peace> <longing to return home> • longer noun Synonyms: long, yearn, hanker, pine, hunger, thirst mean to have a strong desire for something. long implies a wishing with one's whole heart and often a striving to attain <longed for some rest>. yearn suggests an eager, restless, or painful longing <yearned for a stage career>. hanker suggests the uneasy promptings of unsatisfied appetite or desire <always hankering for money>. pine implies a languishing or a fruitless longing for what is impossible <pined for a lost love>. hunger and thirst imply an insistent or impatient craving or a compelling need <hungered for a business of his own> <thirsted for power>. V. intransitive verb Etymology: Middle English, from along (on) because (of) Date: 13th century archaic to be suitable or fitting VI. abbreviation longitude
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
