—adv. in the distant past.
—n. the old days (cf. AULD LANG SYNE).
Etymology: = long since
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adverb
of the distant or comparatively distant past
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We met once long ago
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they long ago forsook their nomadic life
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left for work long ago
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he has long since given up mountain climbing
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This name has long since been forgotten
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"lang syne" is Scottish
• Syn: ↑long ago, ↑long since
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I. \(ˈ)laŋˈzīn, (ˈ)laiŋ-, -ˈsīn\ adverb (or adjective)Etymology: Middle English (Scots) lang sine, from lang long + sine, syne since — more at long, syne
chiefly Scotland : at a distant time in the past
II. noun
chiefly Scotland : times past : old times
old men sat … and talked politics, racing, or lang syne — Ruth Park
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lang syne /sīn/ adverb
Long since, long ago
noun
Time long past
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Main Entry: ↑lang
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lang syne, or lang|syne «LANG SYN, -ZYN», adverb, noun. Scottish.
–adv.
long since; long ago: »
... this south-east corner of Scotland, full of memories of men on the march and battles fought lang syne (London Times).
–n.
a time long ago, especially in the phrase auld lang syne.
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[ˌlang 'zīn; 'sīn] 1.we talked of races run lang syne
Origin:
Useful english dictionary. 2012.