distance English · revision 3037

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1297|origins=la distō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdɪs.tᵊns/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|distaunce]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|destance|t=discord, quarrel]],^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) with later senses taken directly from [[la|distantia|t=a standing apart]],^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from [[m|la|distāns|t=standing apart]], present participle of [[m|la|distāre|t=to stand apart]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|dis-|t=apart]] and [[m|la|stāre|t=to stand]],^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*sta-|t=to stand]].^(Etymonline) The verb is from the noun.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Discord, disagreement, dispute: 1297 in the OED,^(OED 1989) and about 1300 in Etymonline, as “a dispute, civil strife, rebellion”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The original sense of quarrelling, from Old French, has long been obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) The physical sense came from Latin: the extent of space between two places is from the late 14th century in Etymonline^(Etymonline) and about 1440 in the OED,^(OED 1989) and was also used of intervals of time.^(Etymonline) Remoteness, the condition of being far off, is from 1594,^(OED 1989) and the figurative sense of aloofness or reserve in manner from the 1590s.^(Etymonline) ''Keep one's distance'' was figurative from the start, about 1600, and ''at a distance'' is from the 1650s.^(Etymonline) In horse racing ''distance'' was a set space behind the winning post, and ''go the distance'', from the 1930s, seems to come from boxing, where it meant the scheduled length of a bout.^(Etymonline) The verb, “to place at a distance”, is from 1578,^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) “to outstrip” from 1642,^(OED 1989) and the reflexive sense “to dissociate oneself” is the modern one.^(MW Collegiate)^(SOED 2002) The adjective use in ''distance learning'' is from 1972.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1297 – discord, a quarrel.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – extent of space between two places.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1578 – verb, to place at a distance.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1590s – aloofness, reserve.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1594 – remoteness.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1600 – ''keep one's distance''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1642 – verb, to outstrip.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1650s – ''at a distance''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1930s – ''go the distance''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1972 – ''distance learning''.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The amount of [[space]] between two points or things.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The fact of being apart; [[remoteness]]; a far-off place: ''in the distance''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A length of time between two events.^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Coolness or [[reserve]] in personal relations.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # The full length of a race or contest.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To place or keep at a distance; to [[dissociate]] oneself: ''she distanced herself from the decision''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To leave behind; to [[outrun]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[distanceless]]

+ * [[equidistance]]

+ * [[long-distance]]

+ * [[outdistance]]

+ * [[aesthetic distance]]

+ * [[braking distance]]

+ * [[focal distance]]

+ * [[horizon distance]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[distant]]

+ * [[stand]]

+ * [[instance]]

+ * [[substance]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}