長
お
さ
Meanings
1
dated term
Dated term for a leader or head of a group. In modern Japanese, リーダー or 長 (ちょう) as a suffix are more common.
He was respected as the head of the village.
2
the greatest (of all the ...)
dated term
Dated usage meaning the foremost or greatest among a group. Often seen in classical or historical contexts.
He was a swordsman said to be the greatest of his time.
Usage patterns
- 〈組織〉の長になるto become the head/leader of an organization
He became the head of the village.
- 長を務めるto serve as the head/leader
She serves as the head of the clan.
- 〈組織〉の長としてas the head/leader of a group
As the head of the town, he brought the residents together.