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before long

 - 7 dictionary results

long

1  [lawng, long] adjective long⋅er  [lawng-ger, long-] , long⋅est  [lawng-gist, long-] , noun, adverb
Use before long in a Sentence
–adjective
1. having considerable linear extent in space: a long distance; a long handle.
2. having considerable duration in time: a long conversation; a long while.
3. extending, lasting, or totaling a number of specified units: eight miles long; eight hours long.
4. containing many items or units: a long list.
5. requiring a considerable time to relate, read, etc.: a long story.
6. extending beyond normal or moderate limits: a long, boring speech.
7. experienced as passing slowly, because of the difficulty, tedium, or unpleasantness involved: long years of study.
8. reaching well into the past: a long memory.
9. the longer of two or the longest of several: the long way home; a brick with the long side exposed.
10. taking a long time; slow: He's certainly long getting here.
11. forward-looking or considering all aspects; broad: to take a long view of life.
12. intense, thorough, or critical; seriously appraising: a long look at one's past mistakes.
13. having an ample supply or endowment of something (often fol. by on): to be long on advice; to be long on brains.
14. having a considerable time to run, as a promissory note.
15. Chiefly Law. distant or remote in time: a long date.
16. extending relatively far: a man with a long reach.
17. being higher or taller than usual: long casement windows.
18. being against great odds; unlikely: a long chance.
19. (of beverages) mixed or diluted with a large amount of soda, seltzer, etc.: highballs, collinses, and other long drinks.
20. (of the head or skull) of more than ordinary length from front to back.
21. Phonetics.
a. lasting a relatively long time: “Feed” has a longer sound than “feet” or “fit.”
b. belonging to a class of sounds considered as usually longer in duration than another class, as the vowel of bought as compared to that of but, and in many languages serving as a distinctive feature of phonemes, as the ah in German Bahn in contrast with the a in Bann, or the tt in Italian fatto in contrast with the t in fato (opposed to short ).
c. having the sound of the English vowels in mate, meet, mite, mote, moot, and mute, historically descended from vowels that were long in duration.
22. Prosody. (of a syllable in quantitative verse) lasting a longer time than a short syllable.
23. Finance. holding or accumulating stocks, futures, commodities, etc., with the expectation of a rise in prices: a long position in chemicals.
24. Gambling.
a. marked by a large difference in the numbers of the given betting ratio or in the amounts wagered: long odds.
b. of or pertaining to the larger amount bet.
25. Ceramics. (of clay) very plastic; fat.
–noun
26. a comparatively long time: They haven't been gone for long. Will it take long?
27. something that is long: The signal was two longs and a short.
28. a size of garment for men who are taller than average.
29. a garment, as a suit or overcoat, in this size: The shorts and the longs are hung separately.
30. Finance. a person who accumulates or holds stocks or commodities with the expectation of a rise in prices.
31. Music. longa.
–adverb
32. for or through a great extent of space or, esp., time: a reform long advocated.
33. for or throughout a specified extent, esp. of time: How long did he stay?
34. (used elliptically in referring to the length of an absence, delay, etc.): Will she be long?
35. throughout a specified period of time (usually used to emphasize a preceding noun): It's been muggy all summer long.
36. at a point of time far distant from the time indicated: long before.
—Idioms
37. as long as,
a. provided that: As long as you can come by six, I'll be here.
b. seeing that; since: As long as you're going to the grocery anyway, buy me a pint of ice cream.
c. Also, so long as. during the time that; through the period that: As long as we were neighbors, they never invited us inside their house.
38. before long, soon: We should have news of her whereabouts before long.
39. the long and the short of, the point or gist of; substance of: The long and the short of it is that they will be forced to sell all their holdings. Also, the long and short of.
Origin:
bef. 900; (adj.) ME longe, OE lang, long; c. D, G lang, ON langr, Goth langs, L longus; (n.) late ME, deriv. of the adj.; (adv.) ME long(e), lange, OE longe, lange, c. OS, OHG lango

Related forms:
longly, adverb
longness, noun

Synonyms:
1. lengthy, extensive. 2. protracted, prolonged, extended. 6. overlong, wordy, prolix; tedious, boring.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To before long
long 1   (lông, lŏng)   
adj.   long·er, long·est

    1. Extending or traveling a relatively great distance.

    2. Having relatively great height; tall.

    3. Having the greater length of two or the greatest length of several: the long edge of the door.

    4. Extending beyond an average or standard: a long game.

    5. Extending or landing beyond a given boundary, limit, or goal: Her first serve was long.

    6. Linguistics Having a comparatively great duration. Used of a vowel or consonant.

    7. Grammar Of, relating to, or being the English speech sounds (ā, ē, ī, ō, ōō) that are tense vowels or diphthongs.

    8. Stressed or accented. Used of a syllable in accentual prosody.

    9. Being of relatively great duration. Used of a syllable in quantitative prosody.

  2. Of relatively great duration: a long time.

  3. Of a specified linear extent or duration: a mile long; an hour long.

  4. Made up of many members or items: a long shopping list.

    1. Extending beyond an average or standard: a long game.

    2. Extending or landing beyond a given boundary, limit, or goal: Her first serve was long.

    3. Linguistics Having a comparatively great duration. Used of a vowel or consonant.

    4. Grammar Of, relating to, or being the English speech sounds (ā, ē, ī, ō, ōō) that are tense vowels or diphthongs.

    5. Stressed or accented. Used of a syllable in accentual prosody.

    6. Being of relatively great duration. Used of a syllable in quantitative prosody.

  6. Tediously protracted; lengthy: a long speech.

  7. Concerned with distant issues; far-reaching: took a long view of the geopolitical issues.

  8. Involving substantial chance; risky: long odds.

  9. Having an abundance or excess of: "politicians whose résumés are long on competence" (Margaret Garrard Warner).

  10. Having a holding of a commodity or security in expectation of a rise in price: long on soybeans.

    1. Linguistics Having a comparatively great duration. Used of a vowel or consonant.

    2. Grammar Of, relating to, or being the English speech sounds (ā, ē, ī, ō, ōō) that are tense vowels or diphthongs.

    3. Stressed or accented. Used of a syllable in accentual prosody.

    4. Being of relatively great duration. Used of a syllable in quantitative prosody.

    1. Stressed or accented. Used of a syllable in accentual prosody.

    2. Being of relatively great duration. Used of a syllable in quantitative prosody.

adv.   longer, longest

  1. During or for an extended period of time: The promotion was long due.

  2. At or to a considerable distance; far: She walked long past the end of the trail.

  3. Beyond a given boundary, limit, or goal: hit the return long.

  4. For or throughout a specified period: They talked all night long.

  5. At a point of time distant from that referred to: That event took place long before we were born.

  6. Into or in a long position, as of a commodity market.

n.  

  1. A long time: This won't take long.

  2. Linguistics A long syllable, vowel, or consonant.

  3. One who acquires holdings in a security or commodity in expectation of a rise in price.

    1. A garment size for a tall person.

    2. longs Trousers extending to the feet or ankles.


[Middle English, from Old English lang; see del-1 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

long  (adj.)
O.E. lang, long, from P.Gmc. *langgaz (cf. O.H.G., Ger. lang, O.N. langr, M.Du. lanc, Goth. laggs "long"), perhaps from PIE *dlonghos- (cf. L. longus, O.Pers. darga-, Pers. dirang, Skt. dirghah, Gk. dolikhos "long," Gk. endelekhes "perpetual," L. indulgere "to indulge"). The adv. is from O.E. lange, longe, from the adjective. The word illustrates the O.E. tendency for short "a" to become short "o" before -n- (also retained in bond/band and W. Midlands dial. lond from land and hond from hand). Long vowels (c.1000) originally were pronounced for an extended time. Long-playing (phonograph record) is from 1929; abbreviation LP is from 1948. Long-bow, the characteristic medieval Eng. weapon, is attested from c.1500. Longhair is 1920 in the sense of "intellectual," especially in musical tastes, "devotee of classical music;" sense of "hippie" took over 1969. Long-distance in ref. to telephoning is from 1884. Long in the tooth (1852) is from horses showing age by recession of gums. Long shot in the fig. sense of "something unlikely" is from 1867. Long-term (adj.) is from 1908. Long run "ultimate outcome" is attested from 1627. Long time no see, imitative of Amer.Indian speech, is first recorded 1900. Long-winded "given to lengthy speeches" is from 1589.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Financial Dictionary

long

See long position.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: long
Function: adjective
: owning or accumulating securities, goods, or commodities esp. in anticipation of a rise in prices long on wheat> —compare SHORT
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Long (lông), Crawford Williamson. 1815-1878.

American surgeon and pioneer anesthetist who was among the first (1842) to use ether as an anesthetic.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Idioms & Phrases

before long

Soon, in the near future, as in The baby will be teething before long. This idiom was first recorded in 1865.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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