— lengthener , n.
/lengk"theuhn, leng"-, len"-/ , v.t.
1. to make longer; make greater in length.
v.i.
2. to become greater in length; grow long or longer.
[ 1490-1500; LENGTH + -EN 1 ]
Syn. 1. elongate, draw out. LENGTHEN, EXTEND, STRETCH, PROLONG, PROTRACT agree in the idea of making longer. To LENGTHEN is to make longer, either in a material or an immaterial sense: to lengthen a dress. To EXTEND is to lengthen beyond some original point or so as to reach a certain point: to extend a railway line by a hundred miles. To STRETCH is primarily to lengthen by drawing or tension: to stretch a rubber band. Both PROLONG and PROTRACT mean esp. to lengthen in time, and therefore apply to intangibles. To PROLONG is to continue beyond the desired, estimated, or allotted time: to prolong an interview. To PROTRACT is to draw out to undue length or to be slow in coming to a conclusion: to protract a discussion.
Ant. 1. shorten.