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Added 9 October 2026

headlong

/ˈhɛd.lɒŋ/ adjective

In Latin: praeceps Wiktionary

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about headlong at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Excessively quick.
made a hasty exit
With the head foremost.
a headfirst plunge down the stairs

adverb

With the head foremost.
the runner slid headlong into third base
At breakneck speed.
burst headlong through the gate
In a hasty and foolhardy manner.
he fell headlong in love with his cousin

Origin

From Middle English hedlong, alteration of hedling, heedling, hevedlynge (“headlong”), assimilated to long. More at headling.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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