n. [ OE. lengthe, AS. lengð, fr. lang, long, long; akin to D. lengte, Dan. længde, Sw. längd, Icel. lengd. See Long, a. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A portion of space or of time considered as measured by its length; -- often in the plural. [ 1913 Webster ]

Large lengths of seas and shores. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The future but a length behind the past. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Detail or amplification; unfolding; continuance as, to pursue a subject to a great length. [ 1913 Webster ]

May Heaven, great monarch, still augment your bliss
With length of days, and every day like this. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Distance. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He had marched to the length of Exeter. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To lengthen. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To become longer. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lengthened p. pr. & vb. n. Lengthening ] To extent in length; to make longer in extent or duration; as, to lengthen a line or a road; to lengthen life; -- sometimes followed by out. [ 1913 Webster ]

What if I please to lengthen out his date. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Long. [ Obs. ] Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a lengthy manner; at great length or extent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being lengthy; prolixity. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } adv. In the direction of the length; running or extending in the direction of the length of a thing; in a longitudinal direction. Contrasted with crosswise. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Lengthier superl. Lengthiest. ] Having length; rather long or too long; prolix; not brief; -- said chiefly of discourses, writings, and the like. “Lengthy periods.” Washington. “Some lengthy additions.” Byron. “These would be details too lengthy.” Jefferson. “To cut short lengthy explanations.” Trench. [ 1913 Webster ]