Lengthily

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a fashion marked by a protracted duration or unwarranted extent
2. Carried out in a style that emphasizes elaboration and lengthiness rather than conciseness
3. Done over a long span of time or taking more time than usual ; expressed with more information or explanation than necessary

Etymology: "Lengthily" is a plain formation: the adjective "lengthy" with the adverbial suffix "-ly" attached. "Lengthy" itself grew from "length" with the suffix "-y," which in Old English meant "full of" or "having the quality of," so a lengthy account is one full of length. The adjective "length" goes back to Old English "lengthu," built on the same root as "long," so the word's core meaning of extension in space has stayed put while its figurative sense of wordy overextension developed later. The suffix "-ly" has an older history of its own. It descends from Old English "-līċe," which was attached to adjectives to form adverbs of manner, and it passed through Middle English "-ly" before becoming the productive ending seen in countless modern adverbs. Adding it to "lengthy" gives a word meaning in a lengthy manner, which is how the word is used today.

Synonyms: prolongedly, tediously

Antonyms: briefly