Pronunciation: [lˈɒŋ sˈɪns] (IPA) 
The phrase "long since" is spelled with a silent "g" in the word "since", which can be confusing for English language learners. The IPA phonetic transcription for "long since" is /lɔŋ sɪns/, with the "g" sound in "since" being written as /s/ in the transcription. This phrase is used to describe events that happened a long time ago, or to refer to things that were once true but are no longer the case.
The phrase "long since" refers to an expression that implies a considerable span of time has passed since a particular event, action, or state occurred or existed. It is used to indicate that something occurred or existed in the distant past, often suggesting a time that feels remote or almost forgotten.
The term "long since" is composed of two elements: "long," which indicates a significant duration, and "since," which signifies the starting point or moment from which something began. When used together, these words convey a sense of extensive temporal distance.
By using the phrase, one encapsulates a notion that an event, condition, or characteristic no longer holds true or has relevance due to the passage of time. It implies that the mentioned subject is an event from the past, possibly fading from memory or no longer applicable to the present circumstances.
For example, one might use the phrase "long since" in a sentence to convey, "The once bustling marketplace is long since abandoned and now covered in overgrown vegetation." This sentence suggests that the marketplace was deserted a considerable time ago, emphasizing the idea of its former vibrancy compared to its current desolate state.
In summary, "long since" refers to a phrase that highlights the significant amount of time that has elapsed since an event or state occurred, symbolizing its remote or irrelevant nature in the present.
The phrase "long since" can be analyzed by breaking it down into its individual elements:
1. "Long": This word comes from the Old English "lang", which means "of considerable duration" or "extending over a great period of time". It can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word *langgaz.
2. "Since": This word is derived from the Middle English "sithen", which means "from the time that". It can be traced back to the Old English word "siththan" or "siððan", which means "subsequently" or "after that".
So, when combined together, "long since" implies a situation or event that took place a considerable time ago or a period in the past that has extended for a while.
