The term 'A REAL LONG TIME' can be broken down into two crossword solutions: EON and AGES. EON is a three-letter word meaning an indefinitely long period of time, often used to refer to geological time periods. AGES is a four-letter word meaning a very long period of time, usually referring to a period of history or a span of years. Together, these two words indicate a very long period of time, much longer than a human lifespan.