longevity

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English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Early 17th century, learned borrowing from Latin longaevitās, from longaevus (“ancient, aged”) +‎ -itās. The first part is related with English long and this association led to the alternative pronunciation with /ŋ/.

Pronunciation

Noun

longevity (countable and uncountable, plural longevities)

  1. The quality of being long-lasting, especially of life.
    Grandpa had incredible longevity: he lived to be 105 years old!
    • 2020 July 1, David Allen, “Signalling from Leeds along the S&C”, in Rail, page 74:
      This 142-year-old tiny ex-LNWR SB [signal box, at Batley] is an amazing survivor, probably owing its longevity to its location alongside a level crossing. Indeed it started life as a gate box with the delightful name of Lady Ann's Crossing.
  2. Duration over time; persistence.
    • 2018, James Lambert, “Anglo-Indian slang in dictionaries on historical principles”, in World Englishes, volume 37, page 255:
      A ‘postdating’ is an example of the use of a lexical item at a later date than currently recorded and these are important in establishing the longevity of use of a term and whether or not it has become obsolete.

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References

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