The word "lengthens" is spelled with seven letters, but it contains nine distinct sounds in English. The first sound is /l/, followed by the short vowel sound /ɛ/, which is represented by the letter "e". The next three sounds are consonant clusters: /ŋk/ (represented by the letters "ng"), /θ/ (represented by the letters "th"), and /ən/ (represented by the letters "en"). The final two sounds are the vowel sound /z/ (represented by the letter "s") and the consonant sound /ɪz/ (represented by the letters "en" followed by "s").
Lengthens is a verb derived from the noun "length," and it refers to the act of becoming longer in distance, extension, or duration. It signifies the process of extending or stretching something beyond its previous state. When an object or substance lengthens, it undergoes an increase in its physical dimensions, such as its height, width, or depth.
In a literal sense, lengthening can pertain to various objects, including fabrics, ropes, strings, or organisms stretching their bodies. For instance, a rubber band lengthens when it is pulled or stretched to its limit. Similarly, a person's hair lengthens when they allow it to grow over a period of time without cutting it.
However, lengthening can also refer to abstract concepts, such as time or duration. In this sense, it implies the process of making something last longer or extend beyond its initial timeframe. For example, an extension on a project's deadline lengthens the amount of time available to complete it.
In summary, "lengthens" is a verb that describes the action of elongating, expanding, or extending something, whether it be a physical object or a non-tangible entity like time. It denotes the process of making something longer, either in terms of dimensions, duration, or distance.
The word "lengthens" is derived from the root word "lengthen" which is a verb that means to make or become longer. The etymology of "lengthen" can be traced back to the Middle English word "lengthnen" which was formed by combining the words "length" and "-nen" (a suffix indicating a causative action or state). "Length" was derived from the Old English word "lengþu" meaning "the longer part or side" or "duration", and it can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "*langithō" meaning "longness". Overall, the word "lengthens" retains its core meaning of extending or making something longer.