为时已久的 meaning in English

that has lasted for a long time

But , his long - cherished desire to know more about these matters , not only stopped him in his running away , but lured him back again
但是他那为时已久的探索这秘密的欲望不但让他停住了脚步，而且引诱他又跑了回去。
The administrators were neither incompetent nor stupid , but they faced multiple pressures : to hire new faculty to reduce average class size ; to develop new programs to address the changing needs of the state in which the school is located ; and to replace aging laboratory equipment
这些管理人员既不是没有能力，也不是愚蠢，但他们面临着多重压力：为了把一般的教学班变成小班，就要聘用新的教职员工；为了满足学校所在州的不断变化的需求，就要开设新的科目；还要更换为时已久的实验室设备。