Etymologically
Log in

distance

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 18 October 2026 at 14:15. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

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)