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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

distance en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • (General-American) audio
  • (Southern-England) audio
  • /ˈdɪst(ə)n(t)s/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Middle English distance, distaunce, destance (“disagreement, dispute; discrimination; armed conflict; hostility; trouble; space between two points; time interval”), from Anglo-Norman distance, distaunce, destance, Middle French distance, and Old French destance, destaunce, distaunce (“debate; difference, distinction; discord, quarrel; dispute; space between two points; time interval”) (modern French distance), and directly from their etymon Latin distantia (“difference, diversity; distance, remoteness; space between two points”) (whence also Late Latin distantia (“disagreement; discrepancy; gap, opening; time interval”)), from distāns (“being distant; standing apart”) + -ia (suffix forming feminine abstract nouns). Distāns is the present active participle of distō (“to be distant; to stand apart; to differ”), from dis- (prefix meaning ‘apart, asunder; in two’) + stō (“to stand”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to stand (up)”)). The verb is derived from the noun. Cognates * Middle Dutch distancie, distantie (modern Dutch distantie); Dutch afstand (“distance”, literally “off-stand, off-stance”) * German Distanz; German Abstand * Italian distanza * Portuguese distância * Spanish distancia

Meanings

  1. (countable, uncountable) An amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
    • Novv by this time the Man vvas got a good diſtance from them; But hovvever they vvere reſolved to purſue him; vvhich they did and in little time they over-took him 1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC, page 4:
    • Helim had placed tvvo of his ovvn Mules at about a Mile's Diſtance from the black Temple, on the Spot vvhich they had agreed upon for their Rendezvous. 1713 November 3 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “Tuesday, September 22. 1713.”, in The Guardian, number 167, London: […] J[acob] Tonson […]; and sold by A. Baldwin […], →OCLC, page [2], column 1:
    • [O]bservations on the eclipses of Jupiter's satellites have demonstrated that light takes up no more than 8′ 7″ in passing from the sun to the earth, a distance of 95,000,000 miles. 1813, Percy Bysshe Shelley, “Notes. I. Page 13.”, in Queen Mab; […], London: […] P. B. Shelley, […], →OCLC, page 125:
    • The third of Aprill, early in the morning, vvee had ſight of the Holy Port [Porto Santo], belonging to the Spaniard, vvhich Ile at eight leagues diſtance, gaue it ſelfe in this ſhape vnto vs. 1634, T[homas] H[erbert], “[Holy Port]”, in A Relation of Some Yeares Trauaile, Begunne Anno 1626. into Afrique and the Greater Asia, […], London: […] William Stansby, and Jacob Bloome, →OCLC, page 3:
    • The prince is here at hand, pleaſeth your Lordſhip / To meet his grace iuſt diſtance tvveene our armies. c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], signature G2, recto:
    • I have never been to Dallas, but I suppose that, like other American cities I know, it has a residential district within easy motoring distance of the business section and the country club where the affluent have fine houses in large gardens with a handsome view of hill or dale from the living-room windows. 1944, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, chapter 7, in The Razor’s Edge […], 1st American edition, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Doran & Co., →OCLC, section iv, page 355:
    • [W]e get the Idea of Space, both by our Sight, and Touch; vvhich, I think, is ſo evident, that it vvould be as needleſs, to go to prove, that Men perceive by their Sight, a diſtance betvveen Bodies of different Colours, or betvveen the parts of the ſame Body; as that they ſee Colours themſelves: Nor is it leſs obvious, that they can do ſo in the Dark by Feeling and Touch. This Space conſidered barely in length betvveen any tvvo Beings, vvithout conſidering any thing elſe betvveen them, is called diſtance: If conſidered in Length, Breadth, and Thickneſs, I think, it may be called Capacity: […] 1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], “Of Simple Modes; and First, of the Simple Modes of Space”, in An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC, book II, §§ 2–3, page 75:
    • VVe kept at a good diſtance off ſhore, and ſavv no Land till the 14th day; but then, being in lat. 12 d. 50 m. the Volcan of Guatimala appeared in ſight. 1697, William Dampier, chapter VIII, in A New Voyage Round the World. […], London: […] James Knapton, […], →OCLC, page 225:
    • [S]he […] gaue vs into our boate our ſupper halfe dreſſed, pots, and all, and brought vs to our boates ſide, in which wee laye all night, remoouing the ſame a pretie diſtance from the ſhoare: […] 1584, Arthur Barlowe, “The First Voyage Made to the Coastes of America, with Two Barkes, wherein were Captaines Master Philip Amadas, and Master Arthur Barlowe, who Discouered Part of the Countrey, Now Called Virginia, Anno 1584. Written by One of the Said Captaines, and Sent to Sir Walter Raleigh, Knight, at whose Charge and Direction, the Said Voyage was Set foorth.”, in Richard Hakluyt, The Principall Navigations, Voiages, and Discoveries of the English Nation, […], London: […] George Bishop and Ralph Newberie, deputies to Christopher Barker, […], published 1589, →OCLC, page 731:
    • Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly, through the open screen, down the nave to the western door. […] At a seemingly immense distance the surpliced group stopped to say the last prayer. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter VIII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC, pages 53–54:
  2. (countable, uncountable) An amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line. ▸ Chiefly in by a distance: a space of more than 30 lengths (about 80 yards or 7.3 metres) between two racehorses finishing a race, used to describe the margin of victory; also (archaic), any space of 240 yards (about 219.5 metres) on a racecourse.
  3. (countable, uncountable) Chiefly in from a distance: a place which is far away or remote; specifically (especially painting), a more remote part of a landscape or view as contrasted with the foreground.
    • As he was about to descend, he heard a voice from a distance, hallooing, "Rip Van Winkle! Rip Van Winkle!" 1819 June 23, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “Rip Van Winkle”, in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., number I, New York, N.Y.: […] C[ornelius] S. Van Winkle, […], →OCLC, page 71:
    • The rocks of St. Paul appear from a distance of a brilliantly white colour. This is partly owing to the dung of a vast multitude of seafowl, and partly to a coating of a glossy white substance, which is intimately united to the surface of the rocks. 1839, Charles Darwin, chapter I, in Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of His Majesty’s Ships Adventure and Beagle, between the Years 1826 and 1836, […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 8:
    • Dark and sad were those short autumn days, when all the distances were shut off, and the air choked with foul brown fog and drenching rains from off the eastern sea; […] 1866, C[harles] Kingsley, “Prelude. Of the Fens.”, in Hereward the Wake, “Last of the English.” […], volume I, London; Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Macmillan and Co., →OCLC, page 18:
    • And every man on board [the ship], waking or sleeping, good or bad, had had a kinder word for another on that day than on any day in the year; and had shared to some extent in its festivities; and had remembered those he cared for at a distance, and had known that they delighted to remember him. 1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Three. The Second of the Three Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, pages 104–105:
    • Vievv'd from a diſtance, and vvith heedleſs eyes, / Folly and innocence are ſo alike, / The diff'rence, though eſſential, fails to ſtrike. 1782, William Cowper, “The Progress of Error”, in Poems, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], →OCLC, page 51:
    • VVhen from a Diſtance (I ſpeak vvith the Vulgar) vve behold great Objects, the Particles of the intermediate Air and Vapours, vvhich are themſelves unperceivable, do interrupt the Rays of Light, and thereby render the Appearance leſs Strong and Vivid; […] 1709, George Berkeley, “[Section] LXXII. Objection Answer’d.”, in An Essay towards a New Theory of Vision, Dublin: […] Aaron Rhames, […], for Jeremy [i.e., Jeremiah] Pepyat, […], →OCLC, page 79:
    • From a distance, you look like my friend / Even though we are at war / From a distance, I just cannot comprehend / What all this fighting's for // […] // God is watching us / From a distance 1985 (date written), Julie Gold, “From a Distance”, in Lone Star State of Mind, performed by Nanci Griffith, Universal City, Calif.: MCA Records, published 1987, →OCLC:
  4. (countable, uncountable) Chiefly with a modifying word: a measure between two points or quantities; a difference, a variance.
    • By the time I encountered them, Connie's friend […] was quite elderly (Connie was the younger by a considerable distance) 1982 February 13, Nancy Walker, “Connie”, in Gay Community News, volume 9, number 29, page 10:
    • angular distance    focal distance
    • The distance between the lowest and next gear on my bicycle is annoying.
  5. (countable, uncountable) An interval or length of time between events.
    • But the new sovereign's mind was haunted by an apprehension not to be mentioned, even at this distance of time, without shame and indignation. 1849, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter IV, in The History of England from the Accession of James II, volume I, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC, page 455:
    • You vvill take this draught, three times a-day, at tvvo hours' diſtance, firſt ſhaking it vvell. 1774 (first performance), Samuel Foote, edited by [George] Colman, The Cozeners; a Comedy, […], London: […] T[homas] Sherlock, for T[homas] Cadell, […], published 1778, →OCLC, Act III, page 64:
    • IT is a remarkable fact in the hiſtory of ſcience, that the oldeſt book of Elementary Geometry is ſtill conſidered as the beſt, and that the vvritings of Euclid, at the diſtance of tvvo thouſand years, continue to form the moſt approved introduction to the mathematical ſciences. 1795, John Playfair, “Preface”, in Elements of Geometry; Containing the First Six Books of Euclid, with Two Books on the Geometry of Solids. […], Edinburgh: […] Bell & Bradfute, and G[eorge] G[eorge] & J[ohn] Robinson, […], →OCLC, page iii:
    • I Muſt help my Preface by a Poſtſcript, to tell the Reader, that there is Ten Years Diſtance betvveen my vvriting the One and the Other; and that (vvhatever I thought then, and have ſomevvhere ſaid, that I vvould publiſh no more Poetry) He vvill find ſeveral Copies of Verſes ſcattered through this Edition, vvhich vvere not printed in the Firſt. 1718, Mat[thew] Prior, “Postscript”, in Poems on Several Occasions, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], and John Barber […], →OCLC, signature d, recto:
    • VVe cannot tell, at this diſtance of time, vvhich Converſation vvas firſt, that vvith Phalaris, or that vvith Leon. 1697, Richard Bentley, “Of Phalaris’s Epistles”, in A Dissertation upon the Epistles of Phalaris, Themistocles, Socrates, Euripides, and Others; and the Fables of Æsop, London: […] J. Leake, for Peter Buck, […], →OCLC, page 39:
  6. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) A separation in some way other than space or time.
    • He ſhall in ſtrangeſt, ſtand no farther off, / Then in a politique diſtance. c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Tragœdy of Othello, the Moore of Venice. […] (First Quarto), London: […] N[icholas] O[kes] for Thomas Walkley, […], published 1622, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii], page 41:
    • The buſy men in Scotland, being encouraged from Rotterdam, vvent about the country, to try if any men of vveight vvould ſet themſelves at the head of their deſigns for an inſurrection. The Earl of Caſſilis [i.e., John Kennedy, 6th Earl of Cassilis] and Lockhart [William Lockhart of Lee] vvere the tvvo perſons they reſolved to try. But they did it at ſo great a diſtance, that, from the propoſition made to them, there vvas no danger of miſpriſion of treaſon. a. 1716 (date written), [Gilbert] Burnet, “Book II. Of the First Twelve Years of the Reign of King Charles II. from the Year 1660 to the Year 1673.”, in [Gilbert Burnet Jr.], editor, Bishop Burnet’s History of His Own Time. […], volume I, London: […] Thomas Ward […], published 1724, →OCLC, pages 226–227:
    • The friendship did not survive the row: they kept each other at a distance.
  7. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Synonym of length (“an extent measured along the longest dimension of an object”).
  8. (countable, figuratively, obsolete, uncountable) A disagreement, a dispute; also, an estrangement.
  9. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) A difference in pitch between sounds; an interval.
    • [N]other perceaueth the concordaunt and diſcordante diſtaunces of ſoundes, and tunes […] 1551, Thomas More, “The Second Boke of the Communycacion of Raphael Hythlodaye, Concernynge the Best State of a Commen Wealthe: Cõteynyng the Discription of Utopia, with a Large Declaration of the Godly Gouernement, and of All the Good Lawes and Orders of the Same Ilande. Of Their Iourneyenge or Trauaylynge abrode, with Dyuers Other Matters Cunnyngly Reasoned & Wittilie Discussed.”, in Raphe Robynson [i.e., Ralph Robinson], transl., A Fruteful, and Pleasaunt Worke of the Best State of a Publyque Weale, and of the Newe Yle Called Utopia: […], London: […] [Steven Mierdman for] Abraham Vele, […], →OCLC, signature [M.vj.], verso:
  10. (countable, uncountable) The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
    • The distance to Petersborough is thirty miles.
    • From Moscow, the distance is relatively short to Saint Petersburg, relatively long to Novosibirsk, but even greater to Vladivostok.
  11. (countable, uncountable) The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line. ▸ The maximum amount of space between a boxer and their opponent within which the boxer can punch effectively.
  12. (countable, uncountable) The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line. ▸ Often in go the distance, last the distance, or stay the distance: the scheduled duration of a bout.
  13. (countable, uncountable) The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line. ▸ The amount of space between a fencer and their opponent, which the fencer tries to control in order to gain an advantage over the opponent.
    • [William] Page. I haue heard the French-man hath good skill in his Rapier. / [Robert] Shal[low]. Tut ſir: I could haue told you more: In theſe times you ſtand on diſtance: your Paſſes, Stoccado's, and I knovv not vvhat: […] c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 45, column 1:
  14. (countable, uncountable) The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line. ▸ Originally, the space measured back from the winning post which a racehorse running in a heat must reach when the winner has covered the whole course, in order to run in a subsequent heat; also, the point on the racecourse that space away from the winning post; now, the point on a racecourse 240 yards from the winning post.
    • THere vvere a Great many Brave, Sightly Horſes vvith Rich Trappings that vvere brought out One day to the Courſe, and Only One Plain Nag in the Company that made ſport for All the reſt. But vvhen they came at laſt to the Tryal, This vvas the Horſe that ran the VVhole Field out of Diſtance, and VVon the Race. / The MORAL. Our Senſes are No Competent Judges of the Excellencies of the Mind. 1692, Roger L’Estrange, “[The Fables of Abstemius, &c.] Fab[le] CCCXXXIX. A Plain Horse Wins the Prize.”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC, page 296:
  15. (countable, uncountable) The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line. ▸ The amount of space between soldiers or cavalry riders marching or standing in a rank; also, the amount of space between such ranks.
  16. (countable, uncountable) The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line. ▸ The complete length of a course over which a race is run.
  17. (countable, uncountable) Chiefly preceded by the, especially in into or in the distance: the place that is far away or remote.
    • They walked along the road; Scrooge recognising every gate, and post, and tree; until a little market-town appeared in the distance, with its bridge, its church, and winding river. 1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Two. The First of the Three Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 48:
    • [W]e hear / A trumpet in the distance pealing news / Of better, and Hope, […] 1847, Alfred Tennyson, “Part IV”, in The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 68:
    • There was a little light / That twinkled in the misty distance: […] 1813, Percy Bysshe Shelley, “Canto II”, in Queen Mab; […], London: […] P. B. Shelley, […], →OCLC, page 21:
  18. (countable, uncountable) The state of being separated from something else, especially by a long way; the state of being far off or remote; farness, remoteness.
    • But what did Scrooge care? It was the very thing he liked. To edge his way along the crowded paths of life, warning all human sympathy to keep its distance, was what the knowing ones call "nuts" to Scrooge. 1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave I. Marley’s Ghost.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 5:
    • Some Figures monſtrous and miſ-ſhap'd appear, / Conſider'd ſingly, or beheld too near, / VVhich, but proportion'd to their Light, or Place, / Due Diſtance reconciles to Form and Grace. 1711 May, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Criticism, London: […] W[illiam] Lewis […]; and sold by W[illiam] Taylor […], T[homas] Osborn[e] […], and J[ohn] Graves […], →OCLC, page 12:
    • Afar the Contadino's song is heard, / Rude, but made sweet by distance;—[…] a. 1823 (date written), Percy Bysshe Shelley, “Letter to —⁠—”, in Mary W[ollstonecraft] Shelley, editor, Posthumous Poems of Percy Bysshe Shelley, London: […] [C. H. Reynell] for John and Henry L[eigh] Hunt, […], published 1824, →OCLC, page 68:
    • [Julius] Cæſar is ſtill diſpoſed to give us Terms, / And vvaits at Diſtance 'till he hears from Cato. 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act V, scene i, page 60:
    • VVhy do thoſe cliffs of ſhadovvy tint appear / More ſvveet than all the landſcape ſmiling near?— / 'Tis Diſtance lends enchantment to the vievv, / And robes the mountain in its azure hue. 1799, Thomas Campbell, “The Pleasures of Hope; Part First”, in The Pleasures of Hope; in Two Parts. With Other Poems, Edinburgh: […] Mundell & Son; London: Longman & Rees, and J. Wright, […], →OCLC, page 3, lines 5–8:
  19. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) The entire amount of progress to an objective.
    • He had promised to perform this task, but did not go the distance.
  20. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) The state of remoteness or separation in some way other than space or time.
    • the distance between a descendant and their ancestor
    • We’re narrowing the distance between the two versions of the bill.
  21. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) The state of people not being close, friendly, or intimate with each other; also, the state of people who were once close, friendly, or intimate with each other no longer being so; estrangement.
    • [F]oul diſtruſt, and breach / Diſloyal on the part of Man, revolt, / And diſobedience: On the part of Heav'n / Novv alienated, diſtance and diſtaſte, / Anger and juſt rebuke, and judgement giv'n, […] 1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC, signature Ee, verso, lines 6–10:
    • For ſhe vvas ſought by ſpirits of ritcheſt cote, / But kept cold diſtance, and did thence remoue, / To ſpend her liuing in eternall loue. 1609, William Shakespeare, “A Louers Complaint”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC, signature L, recto:
    • In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for its own select circle—a club, or society, of habitués, who met every evening for a pipe and a cheerful glass. […] Strangers might enter the room, but they were made to feel that they were there on sufferance; they were received with distance and suspicion. 1892, Walter Besant, “The Select Circle”, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 46:
  22. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) Excessive reserve or lack of friendliness shown by a person; aloofness, coldness.
  23. (countable, figuratively, obsolete, uncountable) The rank to which an important person belongs.
    • I am not ſatisfied in vvhat diſtance properly to place theſe perſons. Some, perchance, vvill account it too high, to rank them amongſt Martyrs; and ſurely, I conceive it too lovv, to eſteem them but bare Confeſſours. 1655, Thomas Fuller, “Section II. To Mr. Thomas Bowyer of the Old Jury Merchant.”, in The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, book VIII, subsection 33 (Of Those who Died in Prison), page 23:
    • [T]o your eye, / Theſe (Madame) that vvithout your diſtance lie, / Muſt either miſt, or nothing ſeeme to be, […] a. 1631 (date written), J[ohn] Donne, “To the Countesse of Huntington”, in Poems, […] with Elegies on the Authors Death, London: […] M[iles] F[lesher] for John Marriot, […], published 1639, →OCLC, page 191:
  24. (countable, figuratively, obsolete, uncountable) The state of disagreement or dispute between people; dissension.
    • He tells me, among other things, that this business of the Chancellor do breed a kind of inward distance between the King and the Duke of York, and that it cannot be avoided; […] 1667 September 19 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Samuel Pepys, Mynors Bright, transcriber, “September 10th, 1667”, in Henry B[enjamin] Wheatley, editor, The Diary of Samuel Pepys […], volume VII, London: George Bell & Sons […]; Cambridge: Deighton Bell & Co., published 1896, →OCLC, page 107:
    • Generally, the Diuiding and Breaking of all Factions, and Combinations that are aduerſe to the State, and ſetting them at diſtance, or at leaſt diſtruſt amongſt themſelues, is not one of the vvorſt Remedies. 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Seditions and Troubles”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC, page 88:
    • Macb[eth]. Both of you knovv Banquo vvas your Enemie. / Murth[erer]. True, my Lord. / Macb. So is he mine: and in ſuch bloody diſtance, / That euery minute of his being, thruſts / Againſt my neer'ſt of Life: […] c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], page 140, column 1:
    • [T]he true Reaſon vvhy I did not mention her before, vvas, that I apprehended there vvas ſome little Diſtance betvveen them, vvhich I hoped to have the Happineſs of accommodating. 1751 December (indicated as 1752), Henry Fielding, “Mr. Booth Continues His Story. […]”, in Amelia. […], volume I, London: […] [William Strahan] for A[ndrew] Millar […], →OCLC, book II, pages 107–108:
  25. (countable, figuratively, obsolete, uncountable) Often followed by to or towards: an attitude of remoteness or reserve which respect requires; hence, ceremoniousness.
    • Third plain Reaſon of the Publick Honours done to the Magiſtrate is, that he may not only be ſecure, but had alſo in due Eſtimation and Reverence by all thoſe vvho are ſubject to him. 'Tis by Reſpect and Diſtance that Authority is upheld; and 'tis by Outvvard Marks and Enſigns of Honour that Reſpect is ſecured; eſpecially from Vulgar Minds, vvhich do not enter into the true Reaſons of Things, but are govern'd by Appearances. 1706 October 9 (Gregorian calendar), Francis Atterbury, A Sermon Preach’d at the Guild-Hall Chapel, London, Septemb. 28. 1706. Being the Day of the Election of the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor. […], London: […] E. P. [Edmund Parker?] for Jonah Bowyer, […], →OCLC, page 7:
    • It is not to be thought that, however strange and uncommon I might think her liberal and unreserved communications, a young man of two-and-twenty was likely to be severely critical on a beautiful girl of eighteen, for not observing a proper distance towards him; […] 1817 December 31 (indicated as 1818), [Walter Scott], chapter [VI], in Rob Roy. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co. […]; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC, pages 128–129:
    • [T]hough you ſee / The King is kind, I hope your modeſty / VVill knovv, vvhat diſtance to the Crovvn is due. 1665 (first performance), John Dryden, The Indian Emperour, or, The Conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards. […], London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for H[enry] Herringman […], published 1667, →OCLC, Act I, scene ii, page 4:
    • Slipſlop, vvho had preſerved hitherto a Diſtance to her Lady, […] anſvvered her Miſtreſs very pertly, […] 1742, Henry Fielding, “What Passed betwee the Lady and Mrs. Slipslop, in which We Prophesy there are Some Strokes which Every One will Not Truly Comprehend at the First Reading”, in The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews, and of His Friend Mr. Abraham Adams. […], volume I, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book I, page 46:
    • I vvill not ſift into them too minutely; for I'll obſerve the reſpect and diſtance that's due to him from his Scholar: […] 1699, Richard Bentley, “A Dissertation upon the Epistles of Phalaris”, in A Dissertation upon the Epistles of Phalaris. With an Answer to the Objections of the Honourable Charles Boyle, Esquire, London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for Henry Mortlock […], and John Hartley […], →OCLC, page 287:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
distancy alternative lexicographic
distaunce alternative lexicographic
distances Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

social distance · Hellinger distance · resistance distance · distancelessness · keyboard distance · creepage distance · focal distance · stay the distance · lunar distance · slant distance · pseudodistance · endistance · long-distance relationship · interdistance · draw distance · cartesian distance · Manhattan distance · skip distance · biodistance · endistancement · demidistance · a distance · Hamming distance · middle-distance · automatic distance control · distanceless · Tchebychev distance · Chebyshev distance · angular distance · horizon distance · distance vision · critical distance · edit distance · stopping distance · down and distance · distanceometer · Kendall tau distance · aesthetic distance · within touching distance · perpendicular distance · Levenshtein distance · distance teaching · distance function · distance learning · microdistance · isodistance · zenith distance · distance fog · Cartesian distance · ecodistance · security distance · long-distance · blockwise distance · Bhattacharyya distance · braking distance · striking distance · spooky action at a distance · string distance · multidistance · distance clause · luminosity distance · taxicab distance · spitting distance · linguistic distance · taxi distance · walking distance · power distance · self-distance · distance formula · chessboard distance · middle distance · distance learner · at a distance · Hausdorff distance · distancer · by some distance · keep one's distance · taxi-distance · keep at a distance · time-distance · polar distance · Jaccard distance · Hubble distance · short-distance · effort distance · thinking distance · mean distance between failure · action at a distance · distance line · in the distance · Euclidean distance · ultradistance · equidistance · go the distance · distance vector · second distance · distance education · city block distance · interarch distance · interplant distance · transactional distance

Relateds

distant

Synonyms

length · standoffishness · spread · unsociableness · spread · unfriendliness · alienation · quarrel

Translations (214)

sa दू॒र ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · fi ero (separation in some way other than space or time) · sh ùdāljenōst ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · he מֶרְחָק ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · gd eadar-dhealachadh ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · nn avstand ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · et kaugus ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · tl agwat ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · sh daljìna ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · lad lungure (Monastir) ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ja 距離 ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · eu distantzia ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · tr mesafe ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · hi अंतराल (interval or length of time between events) · ur فاصَلَہ ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · tr ara ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · yue 距離 /距离 ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · sw umbali ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ml ദൂരം ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · cs vzdálenost ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · lad distansya ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · lo ຊົ່ວຣະຍະ ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · cmn 距離 /距离 ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ml അകലം ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · uk ві́ддаль ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ta இடைவெளி (interval or length of time between events) · grc ἀπόστασις ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · izh matka ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · arz بعد ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ru отдалённость ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · pl oddal (place which is far away or remote; more remote part of a landscape or view as contrasted with the foreground) · nl eind ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · pl oddal (place that is far away or remote) · sk vzdialenosť ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · it distanza ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · fi pitkä ero (space of more than 30 lengths between two racehorses finishing a race; any space of 240 yards on a racecourse) · fi välimatka ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · be дыста́нцыя ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · tk aralyk ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · hi दूरी ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · fi väli (amount of space between a fencer and their opponent) · ta அளவு (entire amount of progress to an objective) · fi ero (interval or length of time between events) · cmn 距 ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · my အကွာအဝေး ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · fi erä ((boxing) scheduled duration of a bout) · as দূৰতা ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · nl afstand ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · be адле́гласць ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · bg диста́нция ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · prs فَاصْلَه ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · fi etäisyys ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · nb avstand ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ka სიშორე ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ka მანძილი ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · lv atstatums ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ms jarak ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ro distanță ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · fi työ (entire amount of progress to an objective) · pl dal (place that is far away or remote) · ru диста́нция ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · izh etähäisys ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · eo foro (place that is far away or remote) · is fjarlægð ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · th ระยะทาง ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · de Distanz ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ja 遠方 (place that is far away or remote) · as দূৰত্ব ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · mk оддале́ченост ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ur مَسافَت ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · es distancia (place that is far away or remote) · su anggang ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · bo ལམ་ཐག ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ta தொலை (place which is far away or remote; more remote part of a landscape or view as contrasted with the foreground) · ba ара ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ia distantia ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · zlw-ocs dalekost ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ko 거리 ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · jv elet ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ga achar ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ta தூரம் ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · de Weite (place that is far away or remote) · sl oddaljenost ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · fi kaukaisuus (place that is far away or remote) · fa-ira فَاصِلِه ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · mi mataratanga ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · mk дале́чина ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · as দূৰৈ ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · mk раздале́ченост ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · eo malproksimo ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · hi दूर (place that is far away or remote) · nah kalkayotl ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · gl distancia ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · fi ero (state of remoteness or separation in some way other than space or time) · fi väli (measure between two points or quantities — see also difference, variance) · oc distància ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · sh у̀да̄љено̄ст ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · uz oraliq ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · da afstand ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ar بُعْد ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · fr distance ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ang feornes ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · vi khoảng cách ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · sv distans ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · zu ubude ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · hy հեռավորություն ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · uk диста́нція ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ka დაშორება ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · br pellder ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ur دُوری ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · fi väli (amount of space between soldiers or cavalry riders marching or standing in a rank; amount of space between such ranks) · kk арақашықтық ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · pt distância ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · fa-ira دوری ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ka დისტანცია ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · sl razdalja ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · de Entfernung ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · km ចម្ងាយ ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · el απομάκρυνση ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · fi väli (space measured back from the winning post which a racehorse running in a heat must reach when the winner has covered the whole course, in order to run in a subsequent heat; point on the racecourse that space away from the winning post; point on racecourse 240 yards from the winning post) · az məsafə ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ckb دووری ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · prs مَسَافَت ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · az ara ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ru расстоя́ние ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · tt ара ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · fi ajallinen etäisyys (interval or length of time between events) · es lejanía (place that is far away or remote) · ky ара ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · id jarak ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · bg отдалеченост (place that is far away or remote) · ta தொலை (place that is far away or remote) · ca distància ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · hu távolság ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · prs فَاصِلَه ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · gl distancia (place that is far away or remote) · bo རྒྱང་ཐག ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · zu ibanga ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · pl odległość ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · mk диста́нца ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · fi etäinen paikka (place which is far away or remote; more remote part of a landscape or view as contrasted with the foreground) · mel gai ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ro depărtare ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ky аралык ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · lt distancija ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · nl verte (place that is far away or remote) · shn ၶၢဝ်းတၢင်း ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · uk відда́лення ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · hu távolság (place that is far away or remote) · bo ཐག ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · la distantia ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ta தொலைவு ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · hu messzeség (place that is far away or remote) · ca llunyania (place that is far away or remote) · fi matka ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · af afstand ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · kk қашықтық ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · bn দূরত্ব ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ta விலகல் (separation in some way other than space or time) · sh даљѝна ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · es distancia ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · mn зай ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · el διάστημα ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · dsb dalina (place that is far away or remote) · fi etäisyys (amount of space between a fencer and their opponent) · ta விலகல் (state of remoteness or separation in some way other than space or time) · mk растоја́ние ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · prs دُورِی ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · lt atstumas ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ta இடைவெளி (separation in some way other than space or time) · hu táv ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · lv attālums ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · pl dystans ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ht distans ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · tg байн ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · fa-ira مَسافَت ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · tg дурӣ ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · eo distanco ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · tg масофа ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · bg разстоя́ние ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · fi aikaero (interval or length of time between events) · th ระยะห่าง ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · gl lonxanía (place that is far away or remote) · uz masofa ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · sv avstånd ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · uk ві́дстань ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · pl droga ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ug ئارىلىق ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · fi ero (measure between two points or quantities — see also difference, variance) · lt nuotolis ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · lo ໄລຍະຫ່າງ ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ar مَسَافَة ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · zu iduze ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · fi etäisyys ((boxing) maximum amount of space between a boxer and their opponent within which the boxer can punch effectively) · fi etäisyys (state of being separated from something else, especially by a long way; state of being far off or remote) · sq largesë ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · fi etäisyys (state of remoteness or separation in some way other than space or time) · fi rako (measure between two points or quantities — see also difference, variance) · kk ара ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · frr fiirense ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · fi matka (complete length of a course over which a race is run) · tg фосила ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ta இடைவெளி (state of remoteness or separation in some way other than space or time) · el απόσταση ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · ur فاصِلَہ ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · pl dal (place which is far away or remote; more remote part of a landscape or view as contrasted with the foreground) · ug مۇساپە ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · mi nehe ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · de Abstand ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · sq distancë ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · fi kaukaa (place that is far away or remote) · ps واټن ((countable, uncountable) amount of space between points) · de Ferne (place that is far away or remote) · ta விலகு (separation in some way other than space or time)

distance en · VERB

Pronunciation

  • (General-American) audio
  • (Southern-England) audio
  • /ˈdɪst(ə)n(t)s/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Middle English distance, distaunce, destance (“disagreement, dispute; discrimination; armed conflict; hostility; trouble; space between two points; time interval”), from Anglo-Norman distance, distaunce, destance, Middle French distance, and Old French destance, destaunce, distaunce (“debate; difference, distinction; discord, quarrel; dispute; space between two points; time interval”) (modern French distance), and directly from their etymon Latin distantia (“difference, diversity; distance, remoteness; space between two points”) (whence also Late Latin distantia (“disagreement; discrepancy; gap, opening; time interval”)), from distāns (“being distant; standing apart”) + -ia (suffix forming feminine abstract nouns). Distāns is the present active participle of distō (“to be distant; to stand apart; to differ”), from dis- (prefix meaning ‘apart, asunder; in two’) + stō (“to stand”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to stand (up)”)). The verb is derived from the noun. Cognates * Middle Dutch distancie, distantie (modern Dutch distantie); Dutch afstand (“distance”, literally “off-stand, off-stance”) * German Distanz; German Abstand * Italian distanza * Portuguese distância * Spanish distancia

Meanings

  1. (transitive) Often followed by from: to set (someone or something) at a distance (noun sense 1.1) from someone or something else.
    • If therefore the Interpoſition of Gloceſterſhire diſtanceth VVorceſterſhire from confining on the VVeſt-Saxons, the Animadvertor ought to have vented his diſpleaſure not on Me, but on Bede, and [Henry of] Huntington, vvhoſe vvords I exactly tranſlated. 1659, Thomas Fuller, “The Second Book. Of the Conversion of the Saxons, and that which Followed thereupon till the Norman Conquest.”, in The Appeal of Iniured Innocence: Unto the Religious Learned and Ingenious Reader: In a Controversie betwixt the Animadvertor Dr. Peter Heylyn and the Author Thomas Fuller, London: […] W. Godbid, and are to be sold by John Williams […], →OCLC, part II, page 6:
    • It [an insight] distances those who share it, from those who share it not. 1860, R[alph] W[aldo] Emerson, “Essay I. Fate.”, in The Conduct of Life, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, →OCLC, page 22:
    • The faireſt [oxen] in England are bred (or if you vvill, made) in this County, vvith goodly heads, the Tips of vvhoſe horns are ſometimes diſtanced five foot aſunder. a. 1662 (date written), Thomas Fuller, “Lancashire”, in The History of the Worthies of England, London: […] J[ohn] G[rismond,] W[illiam] L[eybourne] and W[illiam] G[odbid], published 1662, →OCLC, page 106:
  2. (transitive) To cause (a place, a thing, etc.) to seem distant, or (figurative) unfamiliar.
    • Below you, where the valley widens greenly toward other mountains, which the ripe Italian air distances with a bloom like that on unplucked grapes, are more arches, ossified arteries of what was once the heart of the world. 1854 April, James Russell Lowell, “Leaves from My Journal in Italy and Elsewhere. Italy.”, in Fireside Travels, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, published 1864, →OCLC, page 191:
    • That vvhich gives the Relievo to a Bovvl, (may ſome ſay to me) is the quick Light, or the vvhite, vvhich appears to be on the ſide, vvhich is neareſt to us, and the black by conſequence diſtances the Object: […] 1695, [Roger de Piles], “Observations on the Art of Painting of Charles Alphonse du Fresnoy”, in C[harles] A[lphonse] du Fresnoy, translated by John Dryden, De Arte Graphica. The Art of Painting, […], London: […] J[ohn] Heptinstall for W. Rogers, […], →OCLC, page 170:
  3. (transitive) To leave behind (someone or something moving in the same direction; specifically, other competitors in a race) some distance away; to outpace, to outstrip.
    • He heard only here and there the ecstatic burst of a mocking-bird's wonderful roulades. Then the horse, with muscles as strong as steel, distanced the sound. 1891, Charles Egbert Craddock [pseudonym; Mary Noailles Murfree], chapter V, in In the “Stranger People’s” Country […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 120:
    • Our fleeter steeds have distanced our attendants; / They lag behind us with a slower pace; / We will await them under the green pendants / Of the great willows in this shady place. 1851, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Golden Legend, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, →OCLC, page 238:
  4. (figuratively, transitive) To keep (someone) emotionally or socially apart from another person or people.
  5. (figuratively, transitive) To exceed or surpass (someone, such as a peer or rival); to outdo, to outstrip.
  6. (figuratively, reflexive, transitive) To keep (oneself) away from someone or something, especially because one does not want to be associated with that person or thing.
    • [S]ince the Church hath, and ought to have a Government, it muſt not only be inoffenſive, but moſt proper, to call it an Hierarchy, or holy Government; […] Beſides, [John] Calvin admitting of ſacrum regimen [holy government], over nicely diſtanceth himſelf from thoſe vvho call it Hierarchy, for he ſaith the ſame in Latin, vvhich they do in Greek; […] 1662, Daniel Burston, ΈΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΣΤΗΣ ἐτι ΈΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΖΟΜΕΝΟΣ [ÉUAGGELISTES eti ÉUAGGELIZOMENOS] or, The Evangelist yet Evangelizing. […], Dublin: […] John Crook, […], and are to be sold by Samuel Dancer, […], →OCLC, page 41:
    • [H]e'd built his life around an independence he'd cultivated as far back as he could remember. Distancing himself from his own family and the heavy legacy of his birth. Distancing himself from painful memories. Distancing himself from emotional entanglements or investment, which could only lead to unbearable heartbreak. 2017, Abby Green, “Prologue”, in A Christmas Bride for the King, London: Mills & Boon, →ISBN, page 7:
    • He distanced himself from the comments made by some of his colleagues.
    • But Gisby distances himself from calling TPE an inter-city operator. 2023 November 1, Philip Haigh, “TPE Must Choose the Right Route to a Brighter Future”, in Rail, number 995, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 57:
  7. (US, archaic, transitive) Of a racehorse: to beat (another horse) by a certain distance; also (passive voice), to cause (a horse) to be disqualified by beating it by a certain distance.
    • [H]e is of Opinion it is inhuman, that Animals ſhould be put upon their utmoſt Strength and Metal for our Diverſion only. Hovvever, not to be particular, he puts in for the Queen's Plate every Year, vvith Orders to his Rider never to vvin or be diſtanced; […] 1713 March 29 (Gregorian calendar), [Richard Steele], “Wednesday, March 18. 1713.”, in The Guardian, number 6, London: […] J[acob] Tonson […]; and sold by A. Baldwin […], →OCLC, page [2], column 1:
  8. (obsolete, transitive) To cover the entire distance to (something).
    • The ſunne and all the ſtarres that do appear / She [Psyche] feels them in herſelf, can diſtance all, / For ſhe is at each one purely preſentiall. 1642, H[enry] M[ore], “ΨΥΧΑΘΑΝΑΣΙΑ [Psychathanasia] Platonica: Or A Platonicall Poem of the Immortality of Souls, Especially Mans Soul”, in ΨΥΧΩΔΙΑ [Psychōdia] Platonica: Or A Platonicall Song of the Soul, […], Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Roger Daniel, printer to the Universitie, →OCLC, book 3, canto 1, stanza 21, page 61:
  9. (obsolete, transitive) To depart from (a place); to leave (a place) behind.
    • [W]e heard the joyous voices sound louder and freer as they distanced the solemn precincts, scattering frolic and music through the town as they separated to their different homes. 1873, [Elizabeth Charles], chapter VII, in Against the Stream: The Story of an Heroic Age in England […], volume I, London: Strahan & Co. […], →OCLC, page 139:
  10. (obsolete, transitive) To indicate or measure the distance to (a place).
    • THe Hebrevvs diſtanced their places by ſeverall meaſures, ſome arbitrary, caſuall, and uncertain; others certain, as reduced to a conſtant ſtandard. Of the former vvas their meaſuring of land by paces, for vve read, vvhen David ſolemnly brought the Ark into Jeruſalem, vvhen he had gone ſix paces he offered oxen and fatlings. 1650, Thomas Fuller, “[The Generall Description of Judea] How the Hebrews Measured Places. Of Their Cubits, Furlongs, Miles and Sabbath-days-journeys.”, in A Pisgah-sight of Palestine and the Confines thereof, with the History of the Old and New Testament Acted thereon, London: […] J. F. for John Williams […], →OCLC, book I, paragraph 1, page 40:
  11. (obsolete, transitive) To set (two or more things) at regular distances from each other; to space, to space out.
    • In the deſign of a Colonnade, or ſingle Columns, the Inter-columns are tvvo diameters, as in the Portico of St. Maria Rotunda at Rome; and this manner of diſtancing the Columns is, by Vitruvius, call'd Syſtylos. 1715, Giacomo Leoni, “Of the Corinthian Order”, in Nicholas Du Bois, transl., The Architecture of A[ndrea] Palladio; […], London: […] John Watts, for the author, →OCLC, page 30:
  12. (intransitive, reflexive) Often followed by from. ▸ To set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something.
  13. (figuratively, intransitive, reflexive) Often followed by from. ▸ To keep oneself emotionally or socially apart from another person or people; to keep one's distance.
    • When a family member goes outside of the family to deal with a problem, he or she distances from the family. The family therapist offers the family the opportunity to deal with problems in a way that will allow them to deepen their connections with each other. The therapist will not be able to accomplish this goal if various family members go outside the family to resolve their problems. 1992, David S. Freeman, “The Major Systems Involved in the Family Therapy Process”, in Multigenerational Family Therapy, Binghamton, N.Y.; London: The Haworth Press, →ISBN, page 66:
    • Also, due to irritability, tension, startle reactions, and feelings of no future love and enjoyment, the partners distance one from another and stop doing things together. […] The therapeutic relationship with PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] patients is very difficult at the beginning of the therapy as these patients will not allow the therapist "to come close to them"—for the same reason as they distance from their family members and partners (the therapist cannot understand them as she/he has not experienced the same thing they did and they are not good enough to be helped; they believe they destroy every person they come into contact with). 2021, Goran Arbanas, “Anxiety and Somatoform Disorders”, in Michal Lew-Starowicz, Annamaria Giraldi, Tillman H. C. Krüger, editors, Psychiatry and Sexual Medicine: A Comprehensive Guide for Clinical Practitioners, Cham, Zug, Switzerland: Springer Nature, →DOI, →ISBN, page 272:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
distanced Number=Plur, Tense=Past lexicographic
distanced Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Past lexicographic
distanced Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Past lexicographic
distanced Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
distanced Mood=Sub, Tense=Past lexicographic
distanced Number=Sing, Person=1, Tense=Past lexicographic
distanced Tense=Past lexicographic
distances Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
distancedst Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Past archaic lexicographic
distancest Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Pres archaic lexicographic
distance Number=Plur, Tense=Pres lexicographic
distance VerbForm=Inf lexicographic
distance Mood=Sub, Tense=Pres lexicographic
distance Number=Sing, Person=1, Tense=Pres lexicographic
distance Mood=Imp, Tense=Pres lexicographic
distance Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Pres lexicographic
distancing Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
distanceth Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres archaic lexicographic

Deriveds

outdistance · undistanced · distanced · distancing · socially distance · role-distance · distancer · distancingly · social distance

Synonyms

outgallop · outdistance · outrun

Translations (47)

fa دوری جستن (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · mk се оддалечува (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · ca distanciar-se (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · fi pitää etäisyyttä (to keep oneself emotionally or socially apart from another person or people) · es alejarse (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · fi pestä kätensä (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · fi etääntyä (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · it distanziare (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · pl dystansować się (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · id menjauhi (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · te దూరం చేసుకొను (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · sv distansera sig (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · fi ottaa välimatkaa (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · su anggang (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · es distanciarse (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · mk се дистанци́ра (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · fi ottaa etäisyyttä (to keep (oneself) away from someone or something, especially because one does not want to be associated with that person or thing) · es distar (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · nl verwijderen (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · ia distantiar (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · fi pitää etäisyyttä (to keep (oneself) away from someone or something, especially because one does not want to be associated with that person or thing) · fi sijoittaa erilleen (to set (someone or something) at a distance from someone or something else) · bg дистанцирам се (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · sv avlägsna sig (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · hi दूर हटना (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · pt distanciar-se (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · pl oddalić się (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · pl zdystansować się (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · ml അകലുക (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · ar بَعَّدَ (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · fi ottaa etäisyyttä (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · el απομακρύνομαι (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · fi pitää erossa (to keep (someone) emotionally or socially apart from another person or people) · he התרחק (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · ca allunyar-se (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · fi tehdä eroa (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · es distanciarse (to keep oneself emotionally or socially apart from another person or people) · fi etäännyttää (to cause (a place, a thing, etc.) to seem distant, or unfamiliar) · es distanciar (to set (someone or something) at a distance from someone or something else) · pt afastar-se (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · es apartarse (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · ro distanța (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · fi etäännyttää (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · pl oddalać się (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · mk се раздалечува (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · ru отдаля́ть (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something) · de entfernen (to set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something)