arch. Also 3 north. lang. [f. lang, long (not recorded in OE.), aphetic f. OE. ʓelang at hand, dependent on, ALONG a.1 (= OHG. gilang, kalang akin). The simple vb. is now superseded in general use by the compound BELONG v.]
1. intr. To be appropriate to († occas. for); to pertain to († rarely with simple dative); to refer or relate to; to belong, as a member of a family or the like, a native, adherent or dependent; to be a part, appendage or dependency. Now only poet. as a rare archaism (written ’long as if short for belong).
a. 1200[?]. Charter Edw. Conf., in Kemble, Cod. Dipl. (1846), IV. 215. Alle ða land ðe longen into ðare halaʓen stowe.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2808. Has þou her … ani man … to þe langand, or hei or lau.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 82. Unto þe Marche gan long an erle, Wolnot he hight.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Miller’s T., 23. His astrelabie longinge for his Art. Ibid., Sqr.’s T., 8. Hym lakked noght that longeth to a kyng.
a. 1400. Prymer (1891), 73. God to wham it longeth alone to haue mercy.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 19. Withe observaunces longyng for a kyng.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), V. 277. A swyneherde longynge to the kynge.
c. 1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., IV. x. 258. It is a thinge wherof the knowledge longeth unto him.
1508. Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 407. For neuer I likit a leid that langit till his blude.
1508. Fisher, 7 Penit. Ps. xxxviii. Wks. (1876), 82. Yf the thynge asked of almyghty god be longynge and not contrary to the soules helth.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. V., 70. Their … fraunchises longyng or dewe to them in all maner of places.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. iv. 6. With such austeritie as longeth to a father.
1600. Holland, Livy, V. xxi. 194. But hereto longeth a tale.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. viii. § 3 (1873), 124. Such mechanique as longeth to the production of the natures afore rehearsed.
1647. H. More, Song of Soul, II. i. II. xlvii. But that full grasp of vast Eternitie ’Longs not to beings simply vegetive.
1650. Fuller, Pisgah, III. iii. 383. West-gate where Shuppim and Hosah were Porters. To them also longed the gate Shallecheth.
1868–70. Morris, Earthly Par., I. 240. He will give thee everything That ’longs unto the daughter of a King.
† b. To concern (a person); hence, to be fitting, befit, beseem. Obs.
a. 1366[?]. Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 1222. She durste never seyn ne do But that thing that hir longed to.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 146. Hit longis to knyghtis to deffende hom.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 237. In towne, as it longes, Þe osul twytereþ mery songes.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xxxvi. 140 (Add. MS.). Alle Ioye and gladnesse, as longeth to a maiden for to have.
1450–80. trans. Secreta Secret., 5. That, þat longith not to be knowe.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron. Hen. V., 64. It longeth not to clerkes to intermele of them.
1564. trans. P. Martyr’s Comm. Judges, 211 b. That longeth to reason to seeke and search out.
† 2. (Const. to, unto.) To be the property or rightful possession of; = BELONG v. 3. Obs.
1389. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 11. Þe catel longynge to þe companye.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 4818. The maners that to the bischop langed.
c. 1450. Merlin, 140. All the londe that longeth to the crowne.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. V., 63. Any hous or edefice or place of ground longyng to any of the saied citezens.
a. 1552. Leland, Collect., I. 235. Fulco had robbid Ruyton a castle longging to Straunge.
1608. Day, Law-Trickes, V. (1881), 79. Unto what great Prince, Christian or Pagan, longs this mansion?
