▪ I. along, a.1 arch. and dial.
(əˈlɒŋ)
Forms: 1 ᵹelang, ᵹelong, 2–4 ilong, 4 ylong, 4–5 alonge, 4– along, 6– all long, 'long.
[OE. ᵹelang, cogn. with OS., OHG. gilang. The prefix sank by 14th c. to ă-, which from 16th onwards was frequently dropped: see long.]
In prep. phr. along of (formerly 1–5 on, in OE. æt): (a) pertaining, belonging, chargeable, attributable, owing to; on account of; (common in London, and southern dialects generally); (b) (together) with; cf. along adv. 3.
| c 880 K. ælfred Oros. iv. x. §9 Ðæt wæs swiðor on ðam ᵹelang. a 1000 ælfric Gen. xlvii. 25 æt þé is {uacu}re l{yacu}f ᵹelang. a 1000 G{uacu}ðlac 223 On heofonum sind láre ᵹelonge. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 195 Vor o ðe is al ilong mi lif. c 1300 Beket 1644 The strif is on the Ilong. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus ii. 1001 On me is not along thin evil fare. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 4292 Hit ys no þyng on hymen ylong þat y ne hadde y-lost Rolond. 1489 Caxton Faytes of Armes i. viii. 19 Whome it is alonge or causeth. 1530 Palsgr. 427/2, I am longe of this stryfe: je suis en cause de cest estrif. c 1570 Thynne Pride & Lowl. (1841) 56 The villain sayth it is all long of me. 1602 Return fr. Parnass. (Arb.) Prol. 3 Its all long on you. 1611 Shakes. Cymb. v. v. 271 Oh, she was naught; and long of her it was That we meet heere so strangely. 1767 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1792) II. 88 'Tis all along of you that I am thus haunted. 1805 Scott Last Minstr. v. xxix, Dark Musgrave, it was long of thee! 1848 Dickens Dombey 496 An't my heart been heavy and watchful along of him and you? 1872 Black Adv. Phaeton xxii. 312 That was all along of Bell. 1881 Atlantic Monthly June 742/2 'Pears to me ez ye mought hev brought him hyar ter eat his supper along of us, stiddier a-leavin' him a-grievin' over his dead wife. 1886 Baumann Londinismen 3/1 Being friendly along o' you..He sleeps along o' me. 1906 Kipling Puck of Pook's Hill 252 A present from the Gentlemen, along o' being good! 1929 Galsworthy Exiled ii. 78 There's a good few round 'ere wantin' your blood, along o' closin' pits. 1940 J. Cary Charley is my Darling xxx. 177 You come along a me, Ginger, and we'll get another cave. 1963 N. Marsh Dead Water (1964) vii. 178 ‘The trouble I've had along of that lady's crankiness,’ he confided, ‘you'd never credit.’ |
▪ II. along, (a.2), adv. and prep.
(əˈlɒŋ)
Forms: 1 and-, ond-, -lang, -long, 1–3 on-, an-long, (3 on longen), 4–5 allonge, 4–6 alonge, 4– along. Aphetic 4–7 long.
[OE. and-lang, f. and- against, facing, in a direction opposite + lang long. At first an adj. (cf. eást-lang extending eastward) = ‘extending away in the opposite direction, far-stretching, extended, continuous,’ then used with gen. case as ‘the lengthened or continuous extent of,’ ‘the whole length of,’ ‘the long way of,’ or absol. ‘the long way,’ ‘lengthwise.’ To some extent mixed with the ON. cogn. end-lang, adopted in north. dial. (see endlong).]
† A. adj. (only in OE.) Extending lengthwise, long-extended, livelong. Afterwards merged in all long: as andlonge niht, al-longe night, now all night long; cf. all day over, all the year through.
| a 1000 Andreas 1276 Wæs andlangne dæᵹ swungen. c 1000 Guðlac 1261 Andlonge niht. c 1300 Beket 403 Al alonge day. c 1300 St. Brandan 595 Oure Maister ous hath i turmented so grisliche allonge niȝt. c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. B. 476 Dreȝly alle alonge day þat dorst neuer lyȝt. |
B. prep. Orig. the adj. used absol. or advb. with a dependent genitive. Cf. ahead of, etc. Through gradual disappearance of the genitive ending the dependent word appears at length as a true object.
1. Through the whole or entire length of; from end to end of (whether within, as a valley, or by the side of, as a river). Afterwards strengthened all along: all through the course of.
| 935 Charter in Cod. Dipl. V. 220 Upp andlang Ocerburnan tó hálelan mærscæ eástæweardan andlang brócæs. c 1000 ælfric Lev. i. 15 Læte yrnan ðæt blod nyðer andlang ðæs weofudes. 1205 Layam. 19677 Þas swiken þer heo sæten on longen þere streten. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 439/4 He swete blood allonge his body. 1660 South Serm. (1843) II. 67 Christ's design all along the Evangelists. 1726 Thomson Winter 186 The whirling Tempest raves along the plain. 1808 Scott Marm. i. v, Along the bridge Lord Marmion rode. 1827 Keble Chr. Year 6 Sprinkled along the waste of years. |
2. This passes imperceptibly into an indication of direction rather than space traversed: Through any part of the length of, lengthwise through or parallel to, as distinguished from across; following the line of (a road, wall, river, sea-shore, etc.)
| 887 O.E. Chron., Her for se here up..andlang Siᵹene oþ Mæterne. 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xx. i, They sayled Alonge the haven. 1600 Fairfax Tasso i. lxxviii. 4 The armed ships, coasting along the shore. 1611 Bible 1 Sam. vi. 12 The kine..went along the high way, lowing as they went. 1751 Johnson Rambl. No. 187 ¶9 Stealing slow and heavy laden along the coast. 1818 Hallam Mid. Ages (1841) I. 367 Before..the first lances of France gleam along the defiles of the Alps. c 1858 R. Hoyt Snow, 'Tis winter, yet there is no sound Along the air Of winds along their battle ground. 1879 Tennyson Lover's T. 80 We roam'd along the dreary coast. |
3. Lying or placed parallel to the length of.
| 1205 Lay. 138 Muche lond he him ȝef..an long þare sea. 1667 Milton P.L. vii. 328 Each fountain side, With borders long the Rivers. 1697 Lond. Gaz. mmmcccxviii/3 The biggest, a Ship of 60 or 64 Guns, came along our side. 1877 W. Lytteil Landm. iii. iii. 110 Along the line of which there are still several out-standing pikes or spink-rocks. |
C. adv. [The prep. with the object not expressed.]
1. a. In a line with the length, parallel to the longest dimension or course (of something understood); lengthwise, longitudinally. Now only with by, and as in 2.
| 1366 Mandeville v. 45 The contree is sett along upon the ryvere of Nyle. c 1420 Anturs Arth. xxxvii, Thay sette listes on lenthe olong on the lawnde. 1541 R. Copland Guydon's Quest. Cyrurg., He ought to open it alonge and ouerthwart this way and that. 1556 Chron. Grey Friars 61 The gardyns that was made a longe by the walles of the citte. 1611 Bible Numb. xx. 17 We will not turne into the fields..but we will goe along by the kings high way. Mod. We found plenty of primroses along by the hedge. |
b. Some way on (in the progress of time). U.S.
| 1870 ‘Mark Twain’ More Distinction in Sketches (1872) 282 In the one case, you start out with a friend along about eleven o'clock. 1883 ― Life Mississippi xxviii, Far along in the day, we saw one steamboat. 1886 Harper's Mag. Oct. 808/1 He come to the house 'long in the first part of the evenin'. 1897 ‘Mark Twain’ Following Equator xxi. 290 He was along toward fifty. 1902 N.Y. Tribune 26 Apr. 82 The afternoon was well along by this time. |
c. along back: at or for some time in the past. U.S.
| 1851 N. Kingsley Diary (1914) 165 Worked as usual to-day, took out 50 ounces and 4 dollars, which gains on our days along back. 1880 Harper's Mag. Dec. 85/1 She's had an easy time along back, but she's seen the last on't. |
d. right along: continuously; without interruption. U.S.
| 1856 Mich. Agric. Soc. Trans. VII. 806 His corn grew right along, for it could not help it. 1936 Wodehouse Laughing Gas xiv. 150 ‘And you come from England?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘London?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Lived there right along, I guess?’ |
2. a. With vbs. of motion: Onward in the course or line of motion, progressively on. Also fig. in phr. to get along: to get on, advance in any business, or in life. get along!: ‘pass on! be off!’
| c 1300 K. Alis. 3410 Ten myle they yeode alang. 1601 Shakes. Jul. C. iv. ii. 33 Speak the word along. 1610 ― Temp. iv. i. 233 Let's along [v.r. alone] And doe the murther first. 1664 Butler Hudibr. ii. iii. 389 No porter's Burthen past along But serv'd for Burthen to his Song. 1767 Fordyce Serm. Yng. Wom. I. vii. 298 The shallow stream runs babbling along. 1821 Keats Isabel xxv, As he to the court-yard pass'd along. 1830 S. Smith Sel. Lett. J. Downing (1834) 34, I wish you'd write me..whether you think I could get along with the business [of Governorship]. 1837 [see get v. 59 b]. 1837 Dickens Pickw. xiv. 135 Get along with you, you wretch, said the handmaiden. 1850 Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. xvi. 153 But she'll get along in heaven better than you or I. a 1884 Colloq. That's enough; go along with you! |
b. to be along, to come to a place, to call, to arrive.
| 1831 Mrs. Holley Texas (1833) 21 The captain..sent word that he would be along for us about sun-set. 1892 ‘Mark Twain’ Amer. Claimant xvi. 162 They'll be along as soon as it's done. 1951 ‘J. Wyndham’ Day of Triffids i, Any time now they'd be along with pneumatic drills. 1959 N. Kneale Quatermass Exper. iv. 114 The official pathologists' report should be along in half an hour. |
3. along with. a. orig. with vb. of motion: Onward with, on the way with, in company with.
| 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. i. i. 106 You, Capulet, shall go along with me. 1596 ― Merch. V. ii. viii. 2 With him is Gratiano gone along. 1615 Bedwell tr. Moham. Imp. i. §40 Go along with vs on our iourney. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 494 ¶5 The spies bringing along with them the clusters of grapes. c 1800 Dibdin, Then I must lug you along with me, Says the saucy Arethusa. 1879 Froude Cæsar x. 115 Too shrewd to go along with them upon a road. |
b. Together with, in association with. (Here along attaches to with rather than to the vb.)
| 1711 Addison Spect. No. 29 ¶11 This Inclination of the Audience to sing along with the Actors. 1768 Sterne Sent. Journ. (1778) I. 86, I would rejoice along with them. 1859 Gen. P. Thompson Audi Alt. Part. II. App. 97 A hunger for news of killed and wounded, along with shrimps, at breakfast. 1876 Freeman Norm. Conq. IV. xvii. 64 Wiltshire had most likely submitted along with Hampshire and Berkshire. |
c. Side by side with, in conjunction with.
| 1817 Jas. Mill Brit. Ind. II. v. iv. 467 Along with this he was mild and equitable. 1840 Gladstone Ch. Princ. 6 Recognising along with, though subordinately to, the Scriptures, the authorised interpretations of primitive Christian antiquity. 1868 G. Duff Pol. Surv. 1, I must ask all..to read what I shall say to-night, along with what I said on the 19th December last. |
4. ellipt. (with omitted, but the force it has imparted to along retained.) In company, as a companion, with (some one).
| 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. v. i. 123 Demetrius and Egeus go along: I must imploy you in some business. 1668 Pepys Diary 5 Nov., We did all along conclude upon answers. 1682 N. O. tr. Boileau's Le Lutrin ii. 182 The Knave had wit in's Anger, And wisely took along his rusty Hanger. |
| Amer. colloq. [1882 Howells Lady of Aroostook 137 ‘Our Captain's wife..was not along,’ said Lydia. ‘Not along?’ repeated Mrs. Erwin..‘Who were the other passengers?’] |
5. all along: during the whole course of any proceeding, throughout, continuously.
| 1670 Baxter Cure Ch.-div. 280 The same all along I may say about the Relicts of Martyrs. 1674 Marvell Reh. Transp. ii. 257 To have to do with such a man all along and thorow. c 1680 Beveridge Serm. (1729) I. 76 The Bishops..have.. continued all allong from the apostles. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 463 ¶8, I have all along declared this to be a Neutral Paper. 1861 Hook Lives Abps. i. vi. 310 The Church..had been all along, the point of centralisation. 1876 Freeman Norm. Conq. II. vii. 123 This impost was all along felt to be a great burthen. |
6. Lengthwise, in regard to a thing itself; at full length. Often strengthened with all. Obs.
| 1413 Lydgate Pilgr. Sowle iii. ix. (1483) 55 These were leyd a long vpon a table. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour civ b, He began to drawe it oute a long with his teeth. 1535 Coverdale 2 Kings iv. 35 [Elisha] went up, and layed him selfe a longe vpon him. 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. v. iii. 3 Vnder yond young Trees lay thee all along. 1637 Gillespie Eng.-Pop. Cerem. iv. vi. 29 The usuall table gesture of the Iewes, was lying along. 1670 T. Brooks Wks. (1867) VI. 441 He that foots it best may be sometimes found all along, and the neatest person may sometimes slip into a slough. 1761 Smollett Gil Blas (1802) II. vii. xvi. 330 My nurse laid me all along again. |
† 7. fig. At length, in full. (? Confused with Fr. au long.) Obs.
| 1461 Past. Lett. 409 II. 38, I enformyd hem the mater along. 1481 Caxton Myrr. i. xiii. 42 We shal declare a litil our matere a longe. 1485 ― Paris & Vienne 56 And redde it al allonge. 1506 Ord. Cryst. Men (W. de Worde) iv. iv. 173 And this mater declareth ryght a longe saynt Bernarde. 1588 J. Mellis Briefe Instr. E vij b, You shal make the marchandise or goods Debitor..with all the particular parcels, along. |
† 8. At a distance, afar. (Perh. confused with Fr. au loin.) Obs.
| a 1300 E.E. Psalter ix. 22 Wherto, Lord, wentist thou awei along? [Wyclif, fer awei]. 1580 Tusser Husb. xix. 25 Exceptions take of the champion land, from lieng alonge from that at thy hand. |
9. Comb. (with object), as † along-board, along-side (of a ship); along-ships, lengthwise to the ship, directed fore and aft. Also along-side, -shore, q.v.
| 1548 Hall Chron. 534 The Regent crappeled with her along boord. 1687 Lond. Gaz. mmcclvi/4 His Men on his Bowsprit and his Sprissel-yards along Ships, all ready to Board us. |
▪ III. † aˈlong, v.1 Obs.
[OE. alangian (f. a- prefix 1 intens. + langian to last, endure; cf. OHG. arlangen); only used impersonally. The pa. pple. alonged seems to represent the OE. of-langed afflicted with longing, wearied with desire, f. of-langian. See long v.]
1. impers. To seem long to, to affect with longing.
| a 1000 Departed Soul (Grein) 154 Me alangaþ, þæs þe ic þe on þissum h{yacu}ndum wát. 1393 Gower Conf. II. 237 This worthy Jason sore alongeth, To se the straunge regions. |
2. pass. To be afflicted with longing, to long.
| c 1325 Cœur de L. 3060 Afftyr pork he alongyd is. a 1400 Leg. Rood (1871) 23 He was alonged sore After þe Oyle of Milce. c 1400 Gamelyn 630 He was sore alonged after a good meel. |
▪ IV. † aˈlong, v.2 Obs. rare.
[f. along adv. 8, probably by form-assoc. with Fr. éloigner, to remove: cf. aloyne.]
To put at a distance, remove far.
| 1506 Ord. Cryst. Men (W. de Worde) v. vii. 419 The bodye gloryous may not along hym from the presence of god. |