Dictionary

aloof en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /əˈluːf/

Etymology

From Middle English loof (“weather gage, windward direction”), probably from Middle Dutch (Compare Dutch loef (“the weather side of a ship”)), originally a nautical order to keep the ship's head to the wind, thus to stay clear of a lee-shore or some other quarter, hence the figurative sense of "at a distance, apart".

Meanings

1. Either physically or emotionally remote: distant, standoffish.
   • None may ever hear the speech of the poets of that city, to whom the gods have spoken. It stands a city aloof. There hath been no rumour of it—I alone have dreamed of it, and I may not be sure that my dreams are true. 1906, Lord Dunsany [i.e., Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany], Time and the Gods, London: William Heineman, →OCLC, page 3:

Forms

Antonyms

hostile · friendly · nonaloof

Coordinates

apathetic · stern · impartial

Deriveds

nonaloof · aloofly · aloofness

Hypernyms

alexithymic

Relateds

unfriendly · taciturn

Synonyms

unimpressionable · quiet · unapproachable · hankty · remote · cool · frosty · offish · touch-me-not-ish · aloof · hard-to-get · offish · standoffish · undemonstrative · uninvolved · remote · standoffish · strange · unbending · thorny · distant

Translations (60)

fr distant (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · pt reservado (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · fi etäinen (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · pl z dystansem (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · es distante (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · pl trzymający się z dala (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · de menschenscheu (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · cs odtažitý (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · de reserviert (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · es alejado (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · el αποστασιοποιημένος (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · haw waiakua (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · tr soğuk (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · gd fad às (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · ru отчуждённый (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · haw umuakua (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · ja つんつん (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · de unnahbar (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · fi kylmäkiskoinen (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · pdt huachnäsich (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · gl distante (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · ja 疎い (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · de zurückhaltend (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · ja 冷然 (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · cmn 保守的 (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · pt afastado (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · ja ツンツン (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · nl afstandelijk (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · it distaccato (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · bg резервиран (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · da reserveret (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · es reservado (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · fi varautunut (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · de distanziert (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · hu tartózkodó (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · bg сдържан (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · ja 飄飄 (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · ja 超然 (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · es apartado (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · es sobrado (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · ru сде́ржанный (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · sv reserverad (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · fr réservé (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · haw naua (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · da menneskesky (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · ja 飄然 (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · nl gereserveerd (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · ru безучастный (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · cmn 疏遠的 /疏远的 (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · ga coimhthíoch (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · cs odměřený (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · pl z rezerwą (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · tr mesafeli (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · pt distante (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · ja 飄々 (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · ru отстранённый (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · fr dédaigneux (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · haw ihu piʻi (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · nl terughoudend (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant) · ru стороня́щийся (reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant)

aloof en · ADP

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /əˈluːf/

Etymology

From Middle English loof (“weather gage, windward direction”), probably from Middle Dutch (Compare Dutch loef (“the weather side of a ship”)), originally a nautical order to keep the ship's head to the wind, thus to stay clear of a lee-shore or some other quarter, hence the figurative sense of "at a distance, apart".

Meanings

1. (obsolete) Away from; clear of.
   • Rivetus […] would fain work himself aloof these rocks and quicksands. 1643, John Milton, Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce:

aloof en · ADV

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /əˈluːf/

Etymology

From Middle English loof (“weather gage, windward direction”), probably from Middle Dutch (Compare Dutch loef (“the weather side of a ship”)), originally a nautical order to keep the ship's head to the wind, thus to stay clear of a lee-shore or some other quarter, hence the figurative sense of "at a distance, apart".

Meanings

1. At or from a distance, but within view, or at a small distance; apart; away.
   • Mother[…]considered that the exclusiveness of Peter's circle was due not to its distinction, but to the fact that it was an inner Babylon of prodigality and whoredom, from which every Kensingtonian held aloof, except on the conventional tip-and-run excursions in pursuit of shopping, tea and theatres. 1921, Ben Travers, chapter 2, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:
   • Sisyphus also I saw, with unwelcomest taskage tormented, / Toilsomely hoisting aloof, unassisted, a ponderous round stone. 1829, William Taylor, Historic Survey of German Poetry, page 73:
   • The noise approaches, tho' our palace stood Aloof from streets, encompass'd with a wood 1697, John Dryden, “Part 13”, in Virgil's Aeneid, Harvard Classics edition, translation of original by Virgil, published 2004, page 113:
2. Without sympathy; unfavorably.
   • But to open the Bible in this spirit — to take the Book as from the hand of God, and then to look at it aloof, and with caution, as if throughout it were illusory and enigmatical, is the worst of all impieties. 1832, Isaac Taylor, Saturday evening, page 363:

Forms

Translations (53)

pt à distância (at or from a distance) · nl afstandelijk (at or from a distance) · fr à l'écart (at or from a distance) · es apartado (at or from a distance) · es indiferente (without sympathy) · de auf Abstand (etwas) (at or from a distance) · fr dédaigneusement (without sympathy) · sq mënjanës (without sympathy) · fr à distance (at or from a distance) · gd fad às (without sympathy) · ca esquerp (without sympathy) · fi ylimielisesti (without sympathy) · gd fad às (at or from a distance) · ru в стороне́ (at or from a distance) · ar بَعِيدًا عَنّ (at or from a distance) · fi erillään (at or from a distance) · de auf Abstand (without sympathy) · gl a distancia (at or from a distance) · fi syrjässä (at or from a distance) · tr ötede (at or from a distance) · de (ein Stück) entfernt (at or from a distance) · cmn 遠離 /远离 (at or from a distance) · de reserviert (without sympathy) · cmn 冷漠地 (without sympathy) · ro distant (at or from a distance) · mi whiwhiu (at or from a distance) · bg настрани (at or from a distance) · sh rezerviran (at or from a distance) · sh distanciran (without sympathy) · cmn 避開 /避开 (at or from a distance) · es distante (at or from a distance) · it con distacco (without sympathy) · de distanziert (without sympathy) · sh distanciran (at or from a distance) · cmn 冷淡地 (without sympathy) · nl negatief (without sympathy) · cs opodál (at or from a distance) · fi syrjästä (at or from a distance) · nl apart (at or from a distance) · sh suzdržan (without sympathy) · sh apartan (at or from a distance) · fa کنارهگیر (without sympathy) · sh ravnodušan (without sympathy) · pt a distância (at or from a distance) · ru поо́даль (at or from a distance) · de auf Distanz (without sympathy) · nl afstandelijk (without sympathy) · es sin compasión (without sympathy) · ro deoparte (at or from a distance) · bg отделно (at or from a distance) · ar بِمَعْزِل عَن (at or from a distance) · ru равноду́шно (without sympathy) · ru отстранённо (without sympathy)