a. Also 9 lengthey. [f. LENGTH sb. + -Y. Before the 19th c. found only in American writers; in many of the early British instances it is referred to as an Americanism.
We have 10 examples from Jefferson between 1782 and 1786; Washington and A. Hamilton also use the word very frequently. T. Paine (quot. 1796), though of English birth, resided much in America.]
Characterized by length; having unusually great length. a. Of compositions, speeches, discussions, etc.: Extending to a great length; often with reproachful implication, prolix, tedious. Hence occas. of a writer or speaker.
1759. J. Adams, Diary, 3 Jan. I grow too minute and lengthy.
1773. Franklin, Lett., Wks. 1887, V. 190. An unwillingness to read any thing about them [such remote countries as America] if it appears a little lengthy.
1793. Brit. Critic, Nov., 286. We shall, at all times, with pleasure, receive from our transatlantic brethren real improvements of our common mother-tongue: but we shall hardly be induced to admit such phrases as that at p. 93—‘more lengthy,’ for longer, or more diffuse.
1796. Paine, Writ. (1895), III. 251. In the mean time the lengthy and drowsy writer of the pieces signed Camillus held himself in reserve to vindicate every thing.
1812. Southey, in Q. Rev., VIII. 320. That, to borrow a trans-atlantic term, may truly be called a lengthy work.
1816. Bentham, Chrestomathia, App., Wks. 1843, VIII. 178. One most lengthy and perplext proposition.
1823. New Monthly Mag., VIII. 476. I must not be lengthy, though I have hardly skimmed the poems.
1827. Scott, Chron. Canongate, Introd. ii. The style of my grandsire … was rather lengthy, as our American friends say.
1834–43. Southey, Doctor, clx. (1862), 494. When he publishes what in America would be called a lengthy poem, with lengthy annotations.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., xxxviii. This address … was unusually lengthy for him.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, I. 379. After much lengthy correspondence.
1872. Freeman, Hist. Ess., Ser. I. iii. 67. The lengthy pleadings in the great suit.
1879. Geo. Eliot, Coll. Breakf. P., 200. But I grow lengthy.
b. said with reference to physical length. rare exc. U.S. and techn. of animals.
1760. P. Coffin, in N. E. Hist. & Gen. Register (1855), IX. 341. There is an Hill … the most steep and lengthy to ascend which I have ever seen.
1795. in W. Guthrie’s Syst. Mod. Geog., II. 330. The lengthy moss, depending on almost every branch.
1803. J. Davis, Trav. U.S., 126. And is Jack Douglas there? said the horseman. He is a great, lengthy fellow. [Author’s note: Lengthy is the American for long.]
1806. M. Lewis, in Lewis & Clark’s Exped. (1893), 994, note. Down a steep and lengthey hill.
1808. Pike, Sources Mississ., II. App. (1810), 4. Which would still leave the Arkansaw near 800 miles more lengthy than the White river.
1849. Thoreau, Week Concord Riv. (1894), 248. Many a lengthy reach we’ve rowed.
1850. Scoresby, Cheever’s Whaleman’s Adv., vii. (1859), 101. Dealing his blows unsparingly … with all the force of his lengthy frame.
1878. H. M. Stanley, Dark Cont., II. xii. 347. On our left … rose a lengthy and stupendous cliff line.
1890. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer (1891), 312. He sees the steers grow glossy of hide, thicker, lengthier, ripen into marketable bullocks.
1893. Kennel Gaz., Aug., 213/3. A nice lengthy bitch.
