too-long
too-long
UK[ˌtuː ˈlɒŋ]US[ˌtuː ˈlɔːŋ]
adj
Lasting for an excessive amount of time; overly extended in duration.
adj
(of a word or compound) Having more syllables or characters than is considered standard or desirable.
Morpheme Breakdown
too
long
too
excessively
long
lengthy
Etymology
The compound 'too-long' is a transparent combination of two native English elements. The adverb 'too' originates from the Old English 'tō', which carried the sense of "in addition" or "beyond a limit," evolving to signify excess. The adjective 'long' descends from the Proto-Germanic 'langaz', related to the concept of extended linear distance or duration. When combined, the literal meaning "excessively lengthy" is directly preserved in modern usage. This compound exemplifies how English readily creates descriptive adjectives by pairing a degree modifier with a core quality, a process that remains productive today.
Analysis
Structure: too (excessively) + long (lengthy)
- too: From Old English 'tō', an adverb meaning "in addition, also, beyond." In this compound, it functions as an intensifying prefix meaning "excessively."
- long: From Old English 'lang, long', an adjective meaning "having great linear extent, drawn out in time." It functions as the core adjective describing the quality being exaggerated.
Examples
The meeting was too-long and unproductive, leaving everyone exhausted.
Hyphenated compounds like "too-long" are used to avoid ambiguity in writing.
The director had to cut several too-long scenes from the final edit of the film.