lengthy English · revision 15499

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1689}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈleŋkθi/, /ˈleŋθi/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|en|length|-y]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Having great length, especially immoderately long: 1759, American English, in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster dates it to 1689.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Until about 1840 British writers always treated it as an Americanism.^(Etymonline) 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.^(Etymonline) It is used chiefly of speeches, writings and discussions,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and of physical length rarely, except in American and technical use.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1689 – lengthy (Merriam-Webster).^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1759 – of compositions, long.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1840 – no longer seen as an Americanism.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Lasting a long time; [[protracted]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Tediously long; [[long-winded]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[lengthily]]

+ * [[lengthiness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[length]]

+ * [[long]]

+ * [[lengthen]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}