whole-length

American  

[hohl-lengkth, -length, hohl-lengkth, -length] / ˈhoʊlˈlɛŋkθ, -ˈlɛŋθ, ˈhoʊlˌlɛŋkθ, -ˌlɛŋθ /

adjective

1. extended to or having its entire length; not shortened or abridged.

   a whole-length report.

2. portraying, reflecting, or accommodating the full length of the human figure.

   a whole-length sofa; a whole-length portrait of the general.

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noun

1. a portrait or statue showing the full length of its subject.

   The painting gallery had a roomful of whole-lengths.

Etymology

Origin of whole-length

First recorded in 1730–40

Example Sentences

It was to be a whole-length in water-colours, like Mr. John Knightley’s, and was destined, if she could please herself, to hold a very honourable station over the mantelpiece.

From "Emma" by Jane Austen

A whole-length picture of the governor was hung up in the working-rooms of the house.

From An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Volume 1 With Remarks on the Dispositions, Customs, Manners, Etc. of The Native Inhabitants of That Country. to Which Are Added, Some Particulars of New Zealand; Compiled, By Permission, From The Mss. of Lieutenant-Governor King. by Collins, David

Again, there is a whole-length showing her about to descend some steps to a lawn, her superb shoulders and neck bare, and her hair highly bedecked with feathers.

From Some Old Time Beauties After Portraits by the English Masters, with Embellishment and Comment by Willing, Thomson

Mr. Whistler has whole-length portraits, or rather the shadows of people, shapes suggestive of good examples of portraiture when completed.

From The Gentle Art of Making Enemies by Whistler, James McNeill

In 1815 Mr. Smith published a separate whole-length portrait of “Henry Dinsdale, nicknamed Sir Harry Dimsdale, mayor of the mock Borough of Garret, aged 38, anno 1800.”

From The Cries of London Exhibiting Several of the Itinerant Traders of Antient and Modern Times by Smith, John Thomas

Related Words

• entire
• exhaustive
• full
• outright
• thorough