† lengestadj.adv.
Obsolete.
A. adj.
Longest, very long.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > duration > [adjective] > long-lasting or enduring > longer or longest
lengerc900
lengestc1000
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > longitudinal extent > [adjective] > long > longer or longest
lengerc900
lengestc1000
uttermosta1586
farthest1633
c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Mark (Corpus Cambr.) xii. 40 Þa onfoð lengestne [Lindisf. lengra] dom.
c1290 Michael 313 in S. Eng. Leg. 308 ‘Longueman’ hatte þe middleste [sc. finguer] for he lenguest is.
1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Rolls) VIII. 65 Arthures scheen boon..was lenger by þre ynches þan þe leg and þe kne of þe lengest man þat was þoo i-founde.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 256 And lengest lyf in hem lent of ledez alle oþer.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 133 Bi eeldist and lengist vce of bileeuyng in the Chirche.
1530 R. Whitford Werke for Housholders (new ed.) A The lengest lyfe of this worlde is very short.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 3776 A large man of lyms, lengest of stature.
B. adv.
Longest.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > duration > [adverb] > for a long time > for the longest time
lengesta1000
a1000 Anglo-Saxon Chron. ann. 755 (Parker MS.) He hæfde þa oþ he ofslog þone aldormon þe him lengest wunode.
a1250 Prov. Ælfred 351 in Old Eng. Misc. 124 So me may þane loþe lengust lede.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 26652 Qua lenges [Fairf. langest] lijs in sin Vnnethes he mai þar-vte win.
c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 18 Rancour and euyl wille dwelliþ lengest amonges hem of alle oþere men.
1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Rolls) VII. 427 And wheþer of hem lyvede lengest [MS. γ lynguste] schulde be oþere heyre.
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur xviii. xviii They began fyrst and lengest endured.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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adj.adv.a1000