distance

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   An amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not…

   An amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.

   • [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: […]
   • The prince is here at hand, pleaſeth your Lordſhip / To meet his grace iuſt diſtance tvveene our armies.
   • 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.
2. 2

   Chiefly in from a distance

   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.

   • Vievv'd from a diſtance, and vvith heedleſs eyes, / Folly and innocence are ſo alike, / The diff'rence, though eſſential, fails to ſtrike.
   • As he was about to descend, he heard a voice from a distance, hallooing, "Rip Van Winkle! Rip Van Winkle!"
3. 3

   Chiefly with a modifying word

   Chiefly with a modifying word: a measure between two points or quantities; a difference, a variance.

   • angular distance    focal distance
   • The distance between the lowest and next gear on my bicycle is annoying.
   • By the time I encountered them, Connie's friend […] was quite elderly (Connie was the younger by a considerable distance)
4. ›+ 27 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      An interval or length of time between events.

      • VVe cannot tell, at this diſtance of time, vvhich Converſation vvas firſt, that vvith Phalaris, or that vvith Leon.
      • You vvill take this draught, three times a-day, at tvvo hours' diſtance, firſt ſhaking it vvell.
   2. 5

      A separation in some way other than space or time.

      • The friendship did not survive the row: they kept each other at a distance.
      • He ſhall in ſtrangeſt, ſtand no farther off, / Then in a politique diſtance.
   3. 6

      Synonym of length (“an extent measured along the longest dimension of an object”).

   4. 7

      A disagreement, a dispute

      A disagreement, a dispute; also, an estrangement.

   5. 8

      A difference in pitch between sounds

      A difference in pitch between sounds; an interval.

      • [N]other perceaueth the concordaunt and diſcordante diſtaunces of ſoundes, and tunes […]
   6. 9

      The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not…

      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.
   7. 10

      Chiefly preceded by the, especially in into or in the distance

      Chiefly preceded by the, especially in into or in the distance: the place that is far away or remote.

      • There was a little light / That twinkled in the misty distance: […]
      • 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.
      • [W]e hear / A trumpet in the distance pealing news / Of better, and Hope, […]
   8. 11

      The state of being separated from something else, especially by a long way

      The state of being separated from something else, especially by a long way; the state of being far off or remote; farness, remoteness.

      • 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.
      • [Julius] Cæſar is ſtill diſpoſed to give us Terms, / And vvaits at Diſtance 'till he hears from Cato.
      • 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.
   9. 12

      The entire amount of progress to an objective.

      • He had promised to perform this task, but did not go the distance.
   10. 13

       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.
   11. 14

       The state of people not being close, friendly, or intimate with each other

       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.

       • For ſhe vvas ſought by ſpirits of ritcheſt cote, / But kept cold diſtance, and did thence remoue, / To ſpend her liuing in eternall loue.
       • [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, […]
   12. 15

       Excessive reserve or lack of friendliness shown by a person

       Excessive reserve or lack of friendliness shown by a person; aloofness, coldness.

   13. 16

       The rank to which an important person belongs.

       • [T]o your eye, / Theſe (Madame) that vvithout your diſtance lie, / Muſt either miſt, or nothing ſeeme to be, […]
       • 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.
   14. 17

       The state of disagreement or dispute between people

       The state of disagreement or dispute between people; dissension.

       • 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: […]
       • 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.
       • 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; […]
   15. 18

       Often followed by to or towards

       Often followed by to or towards: an attitude of remoteness or reserve which respect requires; hence, ceremoniousness.

       • [T]hough you ſee / The King is kind, I hope your modeſty / VVill knovv, vvhat diſtance to the Crovvn is due.
       • I vvill not ſift into them too minutely; for I'll obſerve the reſpect and diſtance that's due to him from his Scholar: […]
   16. 19

       Often followed by from

       Often followed by from: to set (someone or something) at a distance (noun sense 1.1) from someone or something else.

       • 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.
       • It [an insight] distances those who share it, from those who share it not.
   17. 20

       To cause (a place, a thing, etc.) to seem distant, or (figurative) unfamiliar.

       • 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: […]
       • 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.
   18. 21

       To leave behind (someone or something moving in the same direction

       To leave behind (someone or something moving in the same direction; specifically, other competitors in a race) some distance away; to outpace, to outstrip.

       • 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.
       • 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.
   19. 22

       To keep (someone) emotionally or socially apart from another person or people.

   20. 23

       To exceed or surpass (someone, such as a peer or rival)

       To exceed or surpass (someone, such as a peer or rival); to outdo, to outstrip.

   21. 24

       To keep (oneself) away from someone or something, especially because one does not want to…

       To keep (oneself) away from someone or something, especially because one does not want to be associated with that person or thing.

       • He distanced himself from the comments made by some of his colleagues.
   22. 25

       Of a racehorse

       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.

   23. 26

       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.
   24. 27

       To depart from (a place)

       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.
   25. 28

       To indicate or measure the distance to (a place).

   26. 29

       To set (two or more things) at regular distances from each other

       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.
   27. 30

       Often followed by from.

The neighborhood

• neighbordistant