a long while ago
1while — n., conj., v., & adv. n. 1 a space of time, time spent in some action (a long while ago; waited a while; all this while). 2 (prec. by the) a during some other process. b poet. during the time that. 3 (prec. by a) for some time (have not seen you… …
2while — [[t](h)waɪl, waɪl[/t]] n. conj. prep. v. whiled, whil•ing 1) an interval of time: a long while ago[/ex] 2) fun during or in the time that: He ate ice cream while he waited[/ex] 3) fun throughout the time that; as long as 4) fun even though;… …
3ago — a|go W1S1 [əˈgəu US əˈgou] adv [Date: 1400 1500; Origin: From the past participle of ago to pass away (11 17 centuries), from Old English agan, from gan to go ] used to show how far back in the past something happened 5 minutes/an hour/20 years… …
4ago — adjective used to show how far back in the past something happened: 5 minutes/an hour/20 years ago: Michael left the office about half an hour ago. | long ago/a long time ago: I met Aunt Hetty once, a very long time ago. | a minute/moment ago: I… …
5long — long1 W1S1 [lɔŋ US lo:ŋ] adj comparative longer superlative longest ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(great length)¦ 2¦(great distance)¦ 3¦(large amount of time)¦ 4¦(particular length/distance/time)¦ 5¦(writing)¦ 6¦(clothing)¦ 7¦(tiring/boring)¦ …
6long — long1 W1S1 [lɔŋ US lo:ŋ] adj comparative longer superlative longest ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(great length)¦ 2¦(great distance)¦ 3¦(large amount of time)¦ 4¦(particular length/distance/time)¦ 5¦(writing)¦ 6¦(clothing)¦ 7¦(tiring/boring)¦ …
7long — I UK [lɒŋ] / US [lɔŋ] adjective Word forms long : adjective long comparative longer superlative longest *** 1) lasting for a large amount of time It s a long time since I saw Rachel. There was a long pause before he spoke. Many people face a long …
8while — while1 [ waıl, hwaıl ] conjunction *** 1. ) at a moment during the time that something is happening: Someone called while you were out. While in Australia, she met and married Bert. She had sprained her ankle while playing tennis. 2. ) at the… …
9long — I [[t]lɒ̱ŋgɪst, AM lɔ͟ːŋgɪst[/t]] TIME ♦ longest 1) ADV GRADED: ADV with v, oft ADV adv/prep Long means a great amount of time or for a great amount of time. Repairs to the cable did not take too long... Have you known her parents long?... I… …
10while — I UK [waɪl] / US / US [hwaɪl] conjunction *** 1) at a moment during the time that something is happening Someone called while you were out. While in Australia, she met and married Bert. She had sprained her ankle while playing tennis. 2) at the… …
