along English · revision 2484

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=887 (Old English andlang)}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /əˈlɒŋ/, US /əˈlɑːŋ/, /əˈlɔːŋ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|along]], [[inh|ang|andlang|t=entire, continuous; alongside of]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) a compound, [[af|ang|and-|lang|t1=opposite, against|t2=long]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(MWU 2024) The prefix comes from [[gem-pro|*andi-]], from [[ine-pro|*anti|t=against]].^(Etymonline) It matches [[osx|antlang]],^(SOED 2002) and was reinforced by the Old Norse cognate [[m|non|endlangr]].^(Etymonline) The n and d before l were lost, as in [[eleven]].^(Hoad 1986) It is related to [[long]], [[endlong]] and [[anti-]].^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Alongside of: Old English ''andlang'', 887.^(Barnhart 1988) As an adjective it meant “extending lengthwise”, a use only found in Old English.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Already in Old English the preposition came to mean “through the whole length of”.^(Etymonline) Of position, “lengthwise”, it dates from about 1200, and of movement, “onward”, from about 1300.^(Etymonline) The sense “in company, together”, as in ''come along'', is from the 1580s^(Etymonline) or 1600.^(HTOED) ''All along'', “throughout”, is from the 1690s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 887 – Old English ''andlang''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – lengthwise.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1300 – onward.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1580s – in company.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1690s – ''all along''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Preposition===

+ # Over the length of: ''along the road''.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # On a line parallel to and close beside.^(AHD)

+ # In accordance with: ''along party lines''.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Forward, onward.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # As a companion; together: ''come along''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # At hand, with one: ''bring a map along''.^(AHD)

+ # Advanced to some degree: ''well along''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[alongside]]

+ * [[alongshore]]

+ * [[upalong]]

+ * [[come-along]]

+ * [[sing-along]]

+ * [[go along]]

+ * [[get along]]

+ * [[all along]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[long]]

+ * [[endlong]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A separate archaic and dialect word ''along'', as in ''along of'' “owing to, on account of”, comes from Old English ''gelang''.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}