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lengthy

Etymology and origin of the English word lengthy

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1689
Ultimate origins
Old English (lengþu)English (-y)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
English length
English lengthy

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈleŋkθi/, /ˈleŋθi/[1]

Etymology

It is from English length + -y.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Having great length, especially immoderately long: 1759, American English, in Etymonline;[2] Merriam-Webster dates it to 1689.[3]

Semantic evolution

Until about 1840 British writers always treated it as an Americanism.[2] Bartlett (1848) wrote that it had been so much ridiculed by Americans and Englishmen alike that it was generally avoided in writing, though Webster admitted it to his dictionary.[2] It is used chiefly of speeches, writings and discussions,[2][4] and of physical length rarely, except in American and technical use.[4]

Timeline

  • 1689 – lengthy (Merriam-Webster).[3]
  • 1759 – of compositions, long.[4]
  • c. 1840 – no longer seen as an Americanism.[2]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Lasting a long time; protracted.
  2. Tediously long; long-winded.

Word family

  • lengthily
  • lengthiness

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Lengthy.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/lengthy. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·