longhand

English

The U.S. Constitution was written in longhand.

Etymology

long +‎ hand, by analogy with shorthand.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlɒŋˌhænd/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

Noun

longhand (countable and uncountable, plural longhands)

1. The written characters used in the common method of writing; opposed to shorthand, or typing or printing; handwriting.

   Synonym: handwriting

   Antonym: shorthand

   • 1910, Jerome Bird Howard, The Phonographic Amanuensis, page 210:

     When, however, in any particular case, he has no assured means of determining the true spelling of the name, he should always quietly interrupt the dictater with the request, " Spell it , please," and then write the name in longhand from the dictater's spelling.

Adverb

longhand (not comparable)

1. Written by hand in normal characters, as opposed to shorthand.

   Antonym: shorthand

   Coordinate term: engross

2. Written by hand (with pen or pencil), rather than printed out; handwritten.

   Synonym: handwritten

   Antonyms: print, print out

   I had to write the essay out twice longhand – they wouldn’t let me print it out. It took forever!

Further reading

• longhand on Wikipedia.Wikipedia