Emily Dickinson Lexicon

LONG, a. [Sax. long, lang, and leng; G. lange; D. and Dan. lang; Sw. lång; Goth. laggs; L. longus; It. lungo; Fr. long. The Gothic word seems to connect this word with lag, in the sense of drawing out, whence delaying.]

1. Extended; drawn out in a line, or in the direction of length; opposed to short, and contradistinguished from broad or wide. Long is a relative term; for a thing may be long in respect to one thing, and short with respect to another. We apply long to things greatly extended, and to things which exceed the common measure. We say, a long way, a long distance, a long line, and long hair, long arms. By the latter terms, we mean hair and arms exceeding the usual length.
2. Drawn out or extended in time; as, a long time; a long period of time; a long while; a long series of events; a long sickness or confinement; a long session; a long debate.
3. Extended to any certain measure expressed; as, a span long; a yard long; a mile long, that is, extended to the measure of a mile, &c.
4. Dilatory; continuing for an extended time. Death will not be long in coming. – Ecclus.
5. Tedious; continued to a great length. A tale should never be too long. – Prior.
6. Continued in a series to a great extent; as, a long succession of princes; a long line of ancestors.
7. Continued in sound; protracted; as, a long note; a long syllable.
8. Continued; lingering or longing. Praying for him, and casting a long look that way, he saw the galley leave the pursuit. – Sidney.
9. Extensive; extending far in prospect or into futurity. The perennial existence of bodies corporate and their fortunes, are things particularly suited to a man who has long views. – Burke. Long home, the grave or death. Eccles. xii.