long since
The castle has long since fallen into ruins.
The castle fell into ruins a long time ago.
A long time ago; in the past.
This tradition dates back centuries, but it has long since faded into obscurity.
This tradition is very old but has been forgotten for a long time.
The old railway line was long since abandoned by the 1980s.
The railway line was abandoned many years before the 1980s.
Used to indicate that something happened a long time ago and is no longer relevant or in existence. Often implies a sense of finality or completion.
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Pro Tip
When to use 'long since'
Use 'long since' to emphasize that something happened a very long time ago and is no longer relevant. It works well in formal writing, historical contexts, or when describing changes over time.
Gold Rule
Avoid redundancy
'Long since' already implies 'long ago,' so avoid pairing it with phrases like 'many years ago.' Instead, say 'long since abandoned' rather than 'long since many years ago abandoned.'
Word Origin
The phrase 'long since' combines the adverb 'long' (meaning 'for a long time') with the adverb 'since' (meaning 'from a past time until now'). It emerged in Middle English (c. 14th century) as a way to emphasize the passage of time. The phrase has been used in its current form since at least the 16th century.
Usage Notes
1. 'Long since' is typically used in formal or literary contexts. In casual speech, alternatives like 'ages ago' or 'a long time ago' are more common. 2. It often appears in passive constructions or with verbs indicating a change (e.g., 'abandoned', 'forgotten', 'ended'). 3. The phrase implies the action or state is no longer ongoing.