Lasting or drawn out for a long time; extended or prolonged beyond the usual or desired length.
From Latin 'protractus,' past participle of 'protrahere' meaning 'to draw forward or extend,' with 'pro-' meaning forward and 'trahere' meaning to draw.
A protracted legal case actually costs society money beyond just the courtroom—studies show long trials harm public trust in institutions because they feel inefficient, illustrating how time itself becomes a social problem.
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