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Webster 1913 Edition

Length

Length

(lĕngth)
,
Noun.
[OE.
lengthe
, AS.
lengð
, fr.
lang
,
long
, long; akin to D.
lengte
, Dan.
længde
, Sw.
längd
, Icel.
lengd
. See
Long
,
Adj.
]
1.
The longest, or longer, dimension of any object, in distinction from
breadth
or
width
; extent of anything from end to end; the longest line which can be drawn through a body, parallel to its sides;
as, the
length
of a church, or of a ship; the
length
of a rope or line.
2.
A portion of space or of time considered as measured by its length; – often in the plural.
Large
lengths
of seas and shores.
Shakespeare
The future but a
length
behind the past.
Dryden.
3.
The quality or state of being long, in space or time; extent; duration;
as, some sea birds are remarkable for the
length
of their wings; he was tired by the
length
of the sermon, and the
length
of his walk.
4.
A single piece or subdivision of a series, or of a number of long pieces which may be connected together;
as, a
length
of pipe; a
length
of fence.
5.
Detail or amplification; unfolding; continuance as, to pursue a subject to a great length.
May Heaven, great monarch, still augment your bliss
With
length
of days, and every day like this.
Dryden.
6.
Distance.
[Obs.]
He had marched to the
length
of Exeter.
Clarendon.
At length
.
(a)
At or in the full extent; without abbreviation; as, let the name be inserted at length.
(b)
At the end or conclusion; after a long period. See
Syn.
of At last, under
Last
.
–
At arm’s length
.
See under
Arm
.

Length

,
Verb.
T.
To lengthen.
[Obs.]
Shak.

Webster 1828 Edition

Length

LENGTH

, n.
1.
The extent of anything material from end to end; the longest line which can be drawn through a body, parallel to its sides; as the length of a church or of a ship; the length of a rope or line.
2.
Extent; extension.
Stretch'd at his length he spurns the swarthy ground.
3.
A certain extent; a portion of space; with a plural.
Large lengths of seas and shores -
4.
Space of time; duration, indefinitely; as a great length of time. What length of time will this enterprise require for its accomplishment?
5.
Long duration.
May heaven, great monarch, still augment your bliss, with length of days, and every day like this.
6.
Reach or extent; as, to pursue a subject to a great length.
7.
Extent; as the length of a discourse, essay, or argument.
8.
Distance.
He had marched to the length of Exeter.
[Unusual and inelegant.]
1.
At length, at or in the full extent. Let the name be inserted at length.
2.
At last; at the end or conclusion.

LENGTH

,
Verb.
T.
To extend. [Not used.]

Definition 2024

length

length

English

Noun

length ‎(plural lengths)

  1. The distance measured along the longest dimension of an object.
  2. duration
    • Robert Frost
      Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length.
  3. (horse racing) The length of a horse, used to indicate the distance between horses at the end of a race.
  4. (mathematics) Distance between the two ends of a line segment.
  5. (cricket) The distance down the pitch that the ball bounces on its way to the batsman.
  6. (figuratively) Total extent.
    the length of a book
  7. Part of something that is long; a physical piece of something.
    a length of rope

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

length ‎(third-person singular simple present lengths, present participle lengthing, simple past and past participle lengthed)

  1. (obsolete) To lengthen.

Statistics

Most common English words before 1923: France · London · save · #579: length · play · remained · bear

Etymology

From Middle English lengthe, from Old English lengþu ‎(“longness; length”), from Proto-Germanic *langiþō, equivalent to long +‎ -th. Cognate with Scots lenth, lainth ‎(“length”), Saterland Frisian Loangte ‎(“length”), West Frisian lingte, langte ‎(“length”), Dutch lengte ‎(“length”), German Low German Längde, Längd, Längte, Längt ‎(“length”), Danish længde ‎(“length”), Swedish längd ‎(“length”), Icelandic lengd ‎(“length”).

Pronunciation

  • enPR: lĕngth, IPA(key): /lɛŋ(k)θ/, /lɛnθ/
  • (US) enPR: lĕnth, IPA(key): /lɛŋ(k)θ/, /lɛnθ/, /leɪŋθ/
  • Rhymes: -ɛŋkθ, -ɛŋθ, -ɛnθ

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