Longevity
/lɒnˈdʒɛvɪti/noun
The length or duration of a person’s, organism’s, or thing’s life or existence.
Did you know?The second root, Latin aevum, also produced “aeon,” a word used for vast cosmic ages and, later, spiritual or divine eternities.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dlonghos
“Long; extended in space or time”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂eyu-
“Vital force, lifetime, or enduring age”
Classical Latin
Latin
longus + aevum
“Long + age or lifetime”
Classical Latin
Latin
longaevus
“Long-lived; of great age”
Late Latin
Latin
longaevitās
“Long duration of life or existence”
15th Century
English
longevity
“Long duration of life; length of life”
Modern English
English
longevity
“The length or duration of life or existence”