at length

• (General American) enPR: IPA^(key): [æʔ ˈlɛŋθ]

• Audio (Southern England):

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at length

1. For a long time; extensively.

   Synonyms: abidingly, duratively, protractedly; see also Thesaurus:lastingly

   He went on at great/long length about his supposed qualifications.

2. (formal or dated) At last, finally, eventually.

   Synonyms: at last, sooner or later, ultimately; see also Thesaurus:eventually, Thesaurus:lastly

   She led us through the tunnels for some time, until at length we reached a small door in the rock.

   • 1861, E. J. Guerin, Mountain Charley, page 26:

     Through all these she persistently pursued the object of her mission. Her search lasted for long weary years—she followed it unweariedly, till at length she was rewarded.

   • 1898, J. Meade Falkner, chapter 4, in Moonfleet:

     How long I slept I cannot tell, for I had nothing to guide me to the time, but woke at length, and found myself still in darkness.

   • 1903, P. G. Wodehouse, A Prefect's Uncle‎^[1], A & C Black:

     ‘You got rather left there, old chap,’ said Monk at length.

   • 1913, Norman Lindsay, A Curate in Bohemia, Sydney: N.S.W. Bookstall Co., published 1932, page 7:

     Mr Cripps, who had meanwhile been submitting certain bottles to a close scrutiny against the light, at length uttered an exclamation of triumph and put a bottle on the table.

   • 1957 September, M. D. Greville and G. O. Holt, “Railway Development in Manchester—1”, in Railway Magazine, page 617:

     At length, the two schemes were amalgamated to form the Manchester & Birmingham, which was to pass through the Potteries and join the Grand Junction at Chebsey, a few miles north of Stafford.

3. (archaic) In full; without omission or abbreviation.

   Synonyms: entirely, fully, whole cloth; see also Thesaurus:completely

   • 1800, Francis Vincent, United States Register, page 4:

     The proceedings of Congress are not given, since they are inserted at length in the "Congressional Globe;" but the principal bills are noticed under the date of their passage.