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distance

Etymology and origin of the French word distance

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
c. 1223, Gautier de Coinci
Borrowed from
Latin distantia
Ultimate origin
Latin (stō)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin distantia
French distance

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /dis.tɑ̃s/[1]

Forms

distance f (plural distances)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin distantia (“distance, remoteness; difference”), from distāns (“standing apart”) (see distant), the present participle of distō (“to stand apart”), from dis- and stō (“to stand”).[2][3][4][5] Before it, Old French destance “discord, quarrel” is found about 1175, but only in the West and in Anglo-Norman.[2][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Gautier de Coinci (about 1223) uses it figuratively for the degree of separation between two people.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The Roman de la Rose (about 1265) has it for the space between things, and Saint-Gelais (before 1558) for the gap between two things.[4][7][2] It was used of time about 1450.[2] The phrases à quelque distance de (Rousseau, 1762), garder sa distance (Balzac, 1844) and prendre sa distance (Zola, 1877) followed;[2] in sport (1827) the use is related to English distance in horse racing, recorded from 1674.[2]

Prendre ses distances, to keep aloof, and tenir la distance, to last the course, are common modern phrases.[1][8]

Timeline

  • c. 1175 – Destance “discord”, in Benoît's Chronique des ducs de Normandie.[2]
  • c. 1223 – Gautier de Coinci, of the gap between persons.[2]
  • c. 1265 – The space between things, in Jean de Meun.[4]
  • c. 1450 – An interval of time.[2]
  • 1762 – À quelque distance de, in Rousseau.[2]
  • 1827 – Sporting use.[2]
  • 1844 – Garder sa distance, in Balzac.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The length or space between two things or places: la distance de la Terre à la Lune.[8][9]
  2. (mathematics) The length of the straight line joining two points.[8][4]
  3. An interval of time.[2][8]
  4. A difference in rank, character or condition.[8][4]
  5. À distance: from a distance, remotely: commande à distance.[8]
  6. Prendre ses distances: to keep aloof, tenir la distance, to last the course.[1][8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 99b
  6. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
  7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  9. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Distance.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/distance. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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