head|long

head|long «HEHD lng, -long», adverb, adjective.

–adv.

1. with the head first: »

to plunge headlong into the sea.

2. Figurative. with great haste and force: »

to rush headlong into the crowd.

3. Figurative. in too great a rush; without stopping to think; hurriedly or rashly: »

The boy ran headlong across the busy street. One should not rush headlong into buying stocks.

SYNONYM(S): precipitately.

–adj.

1. done or going headfirst: »

a headlong plunge or dive.

2. Figurative. done, caused by, or characterized by great haste and force: »

a headlong course, headlong flight.

3. Figurative. violently or suddenly rash; reckless: »

headlong haste or folly.

SYNONYM(S): precipitate.

4. descending steeply; precipitous: »

a headlong slope.…headlong leaps of water (Elizabeth Barrett Browning).

╂[Middle English hedlong, alteration of earlier hedlyng < hed head + -ling -ling]

–head´long|ness, noun.