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aloof

adv
/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".

  1. derived from loof

Definitions

  1. At or from a distance, but within view, or at a small distance

    At or from a distance, but within view, or at a small distance; apart; away.

    • Sisyphus also I saw, with unwelcomest taskage tormented, / Toilsomely hoisting aloof, unassisted, a ponderous round stone.
    • The noise approaches, tho' our palace stood Aloof from streets, encompass'd with a wood

  2. Without sympathy

    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.

  3. Reserved and remote

    Reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally 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.
  4. ›+ 1 more definition

    1. Away from

      Away from; clear of.

      • Rivetus […] would fain work himself aloof these rocks and quicksands.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for aloof. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA