length
UK[leŋθ]US[leŋθ]
n
the measurement of something from end to end; the greater of two or the greatest of three dimensions of an object
n
the amount of time something lasts
n
the quality of being long
Morpheme Breakdown
leng
th
leng
long
th
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'length' originates from the Old English 'lengðu', which itself evolved from the Proto-Germanic 'langiþō', a derivative of the adjective 'langaz' (long). The suffix '-þō' was a common Germanic device for forming abstract nouns of state or condition. This construction follows a classic Germanic pattern, where an adjectival root is nominalized to express the measurable property it describes. The modern spelling 'length' reflects the Middle English development, where the 'g' sound was lost before the dental fricative, and the vowel shifted. The core logic remains transparent: the state or quality (-th) of being long (leng-).
Analysis
Structure: leng (long) + th (noun suffix)
'leng' is from the Old English root 'lang' (long), representing the core concept of linear extent. 'th' is a native English noun-forming suffix used to create abstract nouns from adjectives, indicating a state or quality.
Examples
The length of the room is twelve feet.
He was surprised by the length of the movie.
She wore her hair at shoulder length.