LENE Le"ne, a. Etym: [L. lenis smooth.] (Phonetics) (a) Smooth; as, the lene breathing. (b) Applied to certain mute consonants, as p, k, and t. (or Gr. p, k, t.). W. E. Jelf.
LENE Le"ne, n. (Phonetics) (a) The smooth breathing (spiritus lenis). (b) Any one of the lene consonants, as p, k, or i (or Gr. p, k, t.). W. E. Jelf.
LENGER; LENGEST
Leng"er, Leng"est, a.
Defn: Longer; longest; — obsolete compar. and superl. of long.
Chaucer.
LENGTH Length, n. Etym: [OE. lengthe, AS. leng, fr. land, long, long; akin to D. lengte, Dan. længde, Sw. längd, Icel. lengd. See Long, a. ]
1. The longest, or longer, dimension of any object, in distinction from breadth or width; extent of anything from end to end; the longest line which can be drawn through a body, parallel to its sides; as, the length of a church, or of a ship; the length of a rope or line.
2. A portion of space or of time considered as measured by its length; — often in the plural. Large lengths of seas and shores. Shak. The future but a length behind the past. Dryden.
3. The quality or state of being long, in space or time; extent; duration; as, some sea birds are remarkable for the length of their wings; he was tired by the length of the sermon, and the length of his walk.
4. A single piece or subdivision of a series, or of a number of long pieces which may be connected together; as, a length of pipe; a length of fence.
5. Detail or amplification; unfolding; continuance as, to pursue a subject to a great length. May Heaven, great monarch, still augment your bliss. With length of days and every day like this. Dryden.