† eˈlong Obs.
Forms: 5 eslonge, 5–7 elonge, 6–7 elong.
[ad. late L. ēlongā-re to remove to a distance, f. ē out + longē far away.
Sense 1 of this word, and the ordinary modern sense of elongate, show that the L. word was sometimes taken as f. ē + long-us long. The form eslonge is due to the influence of the equivalent Romanic form: see eloin.]
1. trans. To make longer, lengthen.
| c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. ii. 79 Elonge eke as the liketh best thi lande. |
b. To retard, delay; to retard the growth of.
| c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. iv. 632 Premature yf that the list elonge [maturam ficum vis serotinam facere]. 1610 G. Fletcher Christ's Vict. in Farr S.P. Jas. I 57 Upon the roof the bird of sorrow sat, Elonging joyfull day with her sad note. |
2. To remove, separate, cause to wander away from. lit. and fig. Also fig. To set free (from trouble or grief).
| 1475 Caxton Jason 135 b, I haue found and felte my self eslonged..of all my sorowes. a 1541 Wyatt Wks. (1861) 55 By seas, and hills elonged from thy sight. 1603 Florio Montaigne iii. ix. (1632) 539 Doth not too much elonge..us from our..principles. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 108 Ane beast that is elonged, and wavered away from his maister. |
3. intr. To go far away. rare—0.
| 1598 Florio, Allontanare, to elonge, to go farre off. |