long-held
UK: ˌlɒŋˈheld | US: ˌlɔːŋˈheld
adj. maintained or believed for a long time
adj. deeply ingrained or traditional
The word combines "long," from Old English lang (referring to duration or physical length), with "held," the past participle of "hold" (Old English healdan, meaning "to grasp or maintain"). Together, they form a compound adjective describing something sustained over time, often implying persistence or tradition. The hyphen preserves clarity in modern English compounding.
The long-held belief in the community was finally proven wrong.
She challenged the long-held traditions of her family.
Their long-held friendship survived many hardships.
The theory is a long-held assumption in the field.
He expressed his long-held desire to travel the world.