long-fingered
UK[ˌlɒŋ ˈfɪŋɡəd]US[ˌlɔːŋ ˈfɪŋɡərd]
adj
Having long fingers.
adj
(Of a person) prone to stealing; thieving. (Archaic)
Morpheme Breakdown
long
finger
ed
long
length
finger
digit
ed
adjective suffix
Etymology
The compound adjective "long-fingered" is a transparent combination of two native English elements. The first element, "long," originates from the Proto-Germanic langgaz, carrying the enduring sense of extended length. The second, "finger," descends from Proto-Germanic fingraz, a term specifically for the digits of the hand. When combined with the adjectival suffix "-ed," the term literally describes the physical characteristic of possessing lengthy fingers. An intriguing semantic extension occurred, likely through metaphorical association, where "long-fingered" came to describe a thief—one whose fingers are "long" for reaching and taking what does not belong to them, a usage now considered archaic.
Analysis
Structure: long (length) + finger (digit) + ed (adjective suffix)
- long: From Old English lang, long, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch lang and German lang. Denotes a great linear extent.
- finger: From Old English finger, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vinger and German Finger. Denotes one of the five digits of the hand.
- ed: A suffix forming adjectives from nouns, from Old English -ede.
Examples
The pianist was remarkably long-fingered, which gave her a great span on the keyboard.
In old plays, the villain was often portrayed as a long-fingered rogue who would pick pockets.
The long-fingered lemur uses its extended digits to extract insects from tree bark.