long-ago

[ lawng-uh-goh, long- ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the distant past or to remote events; ancient:

   long-ago exploits remembered only in folk tales.

Word History and Origins

Origin of long-ago¹

First recorded in 1825–35

Idioms and Phrases

A time well before the present, the distant past. For example, I read that book long ago , or The battles of long ago were just as fierce . [Second half of 1300s]

Example Sentences

As long ago as the early 1970s, he had gone on to support most civil rights-related legislation.

From The Daily Beast

Not long ago, however, these outré components would have amounted to an interesting yet niche rap career.

From The Daily Beast

Not long ago, a whole host of artists were plowing these fields—Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Johnny Winter.

From The Daily Beast

For far too long, we have been coasting on a moral authority to which we long ago lost any clear title.

From The Daily Beast

Not long ago, the concept of diversity was viewed as anti-meritocratic—even harmful.

From The Daily Beast

Ages back—let musty geologists tell us how long ago—'twas a lake, larger than the Lake of Geneva.

From Project Gutenberg

Young Lamb's big cigar has been out long ago; but he pulls hard at it, wholly unaware of the fact.

From Project Gutenberg

That, like the matches, had long ago been used up, and our discoverers were reduced to roasted biscuit-crumbs.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a difficulty foreseen long ago in Socialist discussions, but never completely met by the thorough-paced Communist.

From Project Gutenberg

Not long ago I met one day in London a business man who, it turned out, was at this school with me.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• earlier
• early
• late
• old
• preceding
• previous
• prior
• recent