distance
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈdɪstn̩s/
rhymes: -ɪstəns
Forms: form: distances
form: distaunce
Etymology: From Middle English distance, distaunce, destance (“disagreement, dispute; discrimination; armed conflict; hostility; trouble; space between two points; time interval”), from Anglo-Norman distance, distaunce, destance, Middle French distance, and Old French destance, destaunce, distaunce (“debate; difference, distinction; discord, quarrel; dispute; space between two points; time interval”) (modern French distance), and directly from their etymon Latin distantia (“difference, diversity; distance, remoteness; space between two points”) (whence also Late Latin distantia (“disagreement; discrepancy; gap, opening; time interval”)), from distāns (“being distant; standing apart”) + -ia (suffix forming feminine abstract nouns). Distāns is the present active participle of distō (“to be distant; to stand apart; to differ”), from dis- (prefix meaning ‘apart, asunder; in two’) + stō (“to stand”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to stand (up)”)).
The verb is derived from the noun.
Cognates
* Middle Dutch distancie, distantie (modern Dutch distantie); Dutch afstand (“distance”, literally “off-stand, off-stance”)
* German Distanz; German Abstand
* Italian distanza
* Portuguese distância
* Spanish distancia
Senses: examples: text: [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: […]
ref: 1584, Arthur Barlowe, “The First Voyage Made to the Coastes of America, with Two Barkes, wherein were Captaines Master Philip Amadas, and Master Arthur Barlowe, who Discouered Part of the Countrey, Now Called Virginia, Anno 1584. Written by One of the Said Captaines, and Sent to Sir Walter Raleigh, Knight, at whose Charge and Direction, the Said Voyage was Set foorth.”, in Richard Hakluyt, The Principall Navigations, Voiages, and Discoveries of the English Nation, […], London: […] George Bishop and Ralph Newberie, deputies to Christopher Barker, […], published 1589, →OCLC, page 731:
text: The prince is here at hand, pleaſeth your Lordſhip / To meet his grace iuſt diſtance tvveene our armies.
ref: c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], signature G2, recto:
text: 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.
ref: 1634, T[homas] H[erbert], “[Holy Port]”, in A Relation of Some Yeares Trauaile, Begunne Anno 1626. into Afrique and the Greater Asia, […], London: […] William Stansby, and Jacob Bloome, →OCLC, page 3:
text: Novv by this time the Man vvas got a good diſtance from them; But hovvever they vvere reſolved to purſue him; vvhich they did and in little time they over-took him
ref: 1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC, page 4:
text: [W]e get the Idea of Space, both by our Sight, and Touch; vvhich, I think, is ſo evident, that it vvould be as needleſs, to go to prove, that Men perceive by their Sight, a diſtance betvveen Bodies of different Colours, or betvveen the parts of the ſame Body; as that they ſee Colours themſelves: Nor is it leſs obvious, that they can do ſo in the Dark by Feeling and Touch. This Space conſidered barely in length betvveen any tvvo Beings, vvithout conſidering any thing elſe betvveen them, is called diſtance: If conſidered in Length, Breadth, and Thickneſs, I think, it may be called Capacity: […]
ref: 1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], “Of Simple Modes; and First, of the Simple Modes of Space”, in An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC, book II, §§ 2–3, page 75:
text: VVe kept at a good diſtance off ſhore, and ſavv no Land till the 14th day; but then, being in lat. 12 d. 50 m. the Volcan of Guatimala appeared in ſight.
ref: 1697, William Dampier, chapter VIII, in A New Voyage Round the World. […], London: […] James Knapton, […], →OCLC, page 225:
text: Helim had placed tvvo of his ovvn Mules at about a Mile's Diſtance from the black Temple, on the Spot vvhich they had agreed upon for their Rendezvous.
ref: 1713 November 3 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “Tuesday, September 22. 1713.”, in The Guardian, number 167, London: […] J[acob] Tonson […]; and sold by A. Baldwin […], →OCLC, page [2], column 1:
text: [O]bservations on the eclipses of Jupiter's satellites have demonstrated that light takes up no more than 8′ 7″ in passing from the sun to the earth, a distance of 95,000,000 miles.
ref: 1813, Percy Bysshe Shelley, “Notes. I. Page 13.”, in Queen Mab; […], London: […] P. B. Shelley, […], →OCLC, page 125:
text: Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly, through the open screen, down the nave to the western door. […] At a seemingly immense distance the surpliced group stopped to say the last prayer.
ref: 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter VIII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC, pages 53–54:
text: I have never been to Dallas, but I suppose that, like other American cities I know, it has a residential district within easy motoring distance of the business section and the country club where the affluent have fine houses in large gardens with a handsome view of hill or dale from the living-room windows.
ref: 1944, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, chapter 7, in The Razor’s Edge […], 1st American edition, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Doran & Co., →OCLC, section iv, page 355:
glosses: An amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
topics: hobbies
horse-racing
horseracing
horses
lifestyle
pets
racing
sports
glosses: An amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
Chiefly in by a distance: a space of more than 30 lengths (about 80 yards or 7.3 metres) between two racehorses finishing a race, used to describe the margin of victory; also (archaic), any space of 240 yards (about 219.5 metres) on a racecourse.
examples: text: VVhen from a Diſtance (I ſpeak vvith the Vulgar) vve behold great Objects, the Particles of the intermediate Air and Vapours, vvhich are themſelves unperceivable, do interrupt the Rays of Light, and thereby render the Appearance leſs Strong and Vivid; […]
ref: 1709, George Berkeley, “[Section] LXXII. Objection Answer’d.”, in An Essay towards a New Theory of Vision, Dublin: […] Aaron Rhames, […], for Jeremy [i.e., Jeremiah] Pepyat, […], →OCLC, page 79:
text: Vievv'd from a diſtance, and vvith heedleſs eyes, / Folly and innocence are ſo alike, / The diff'rence, though eſſential, fails to ſtrike.
ref: 1782, William Cowper, “The Progress of Error”, in Poems, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], →OCLC, page 51:
text: As he was about to descend, he heard a voice from a distance, hallooing, "Rip Van Winkle! Rip Van Winkle!"
ref: 1819 June 23, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “Rip Van Winkle”, in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., number I, New York, N.Y.: […] C[ornelius] S. Van Winkle, […], →OCLC, page 71:
text: The rocks of St. Paul appear from a distance of a brilliantly white colour. This is partly owing to the dung of a vast multitude of seafowl, and partly to a coating of a glossy white substance, which is intimately united to the surface of the rocks.
ref: 1839, Charles Darwin, chapter I, in Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of His Majesty’s Ships Adventure and Beagle, between the Years 1826 and 1836, […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 8:
text: And every man on board [the ship], waking or sleeping, good or bad, had had a kinder word for another on that day than on any day in the year; and had shared to some extent in its festivities; and had remembered those he cared for at a distance, and had known that they delighted to remember him.
ref: 1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Three. The Second of the Three Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, pages 104–105:
text: Dark and sad were those short autumn days, when all the distances were shut off, and the air choked with foul brown fog and drenching rains from off the eastern sea; […]
ref: 1866, C[harles] Kingsley, “Prelude. Of the Fens.”, in Hereward the Wake, “Last of the English.” […], volume I, London; Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Macmillan and Co., →OCLC, page 18:
text: From a distance, you look like my friend / Even though we are at war / From a distance, I just cannot comprehend / What all this fighting's for // […] // God is watching us / From a distance
ref: 1985 (date written), Julie Gold, “From a Distance”, in Lone Star State of Mind, performed by Nanci Griffith, Universal City, Calif.: MCA Records, published 1987, →OCLC:
glosses: 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.
examples: text: angular distance    focal distance
text: The distance between the lowest and next gear on my bicycle is annoying.
text: By the time I encountered them, Connie's friend […] was quite elderly (Connie was the younger by a considerable distance)
ref: 1982 February 13, Nancy Walker, “Connie”, in Gay Community News, volume 9, number 29, page 10:
glosses: Chiefly with a modifying word: a measure between two points or quantities; a difference, a variance.
examples: text: VVe cannot tell, at this diſtance of time, vvhich Converſation vvas firſt, that vvith Phalaris, or that vvith Leon.
ref: 1697, Richard Bentley, “Of Phalaris’s Epistles”, in A Dissertation upon the Epistles of Phalaris, Themistocles, Socrates, Euripides, and Others; and the Fables of Æsop, London: […] J. Leake, for Peter Buck, […], →OCLC, page 39:
text: I Muſt help my Preface by a Poſtſcript, to tell the Reader, that there is Ten Years Diſtance betvveen my vvriting the One and the Other; and that (vvhatever I thought then, and have ſomevvhere ſaid, that I vvould publiſh no more Poetry) He vvill find ſeveral Copies of Verſes ſcattered through this Edition, vvhich vvere not printed in the Firſt.
ref: 1718, Mat[thew] Prior, “Postscript”, in Poems on Several Occasions, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], and John Barber […], →OCLC, signature d, recto:
text: You vvill take this draught, three times a-day, at tvvo hours' diſtance, firſt ſhaking it vvell.
ref: 1774 (first performance), Samuel Foote, edited by [George] Colman, The Cozeners; a Comedy, […], London: […] T[homas] Sherlock, for T[homas] Cadell, […], published 1778, →OCLC, Act III, page 64:
text: IT is a remarkable fact in the hiſtory of ſcience, that the oldeſt book of Elementary Geometry is ſtill conſidered as the beſt, and that the vvritings of Euclid, at the diſtance of tvvo thouſand years, continue to form the moſt approved introduction to the mathematical ſciences.
ref: 1795, John Playfair, “Preface”, in Elements of Geometry; Containing the First Six Books of Euclid, with Two Books on the Geometry of Solids. […], Edinburgh: […] Bell & Bradfute, and G[eorge] G[eorge] & J[ohn] Robinson, […], →OCLC, page iii:
text: But the new sovereign's mind was haunted by an apprehension not to be mentioned, even at this distance of time, without shame and indignation.
ref: 1849, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter IV, in The History of England from the Accession of James II, volume I, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC, page 455:
glosses: An interval or length of time between events.
examples: text: The friendship did not survive the row: they kept each other at a distance.
text: He ſhall in ſtrangeſt, ſtand no farther off, / Then in a politique diſtance.
ref: c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Tragœdy of Othello, the Moore of Venice. […] (First Quarto), London: […] N[icholas] O[kes] for Thomas Walkley, […], published 1622, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii], page 41:
text: The buſy men in Scotland, being encouraged from Rotterdam, vvent about the country, to try if any men of vveight vvould ſet themſelves at the head of their deſigns for an inſurrection. The Earl of Caſſilis [i.e., John Kennedy, 6th Earl of Cassilis] and Lockhart [William Lockhart of Lee] vvere the tvvo perſons they reſolved to try. But they did it at ſo great a diſtance, that, from the propoſition made to them, there vvas no danger of miſpriſion of treaſon.
ref: a. 1716 (date written), [Gilbert] Burnet, “Book II. Of the First Twelve Years of the Reign of King Charles II. from the Year 1660 to the Year 1673.”, in [Gilbert Burnet Jr.], editor, Bishop Burnet’s History of His Own Time. […], volume I, London: […] Thomas Ward […], published 1724, →OCLC, pages 226–227:
glosses: A separation in some way other than space or time.
glosses: Synonym of length (“an extent measured along the longest dimension of an object”).
synonyms: word: length
extra: an extent measured along the longest dimension of an object
synonyms: quarrel
glosses: A disagreement, a dispute; also, an estrangement.
examples: text: [N]other perceaueth the concordaunt and diſcordante diſtaunces of ſoundes, and tunes […]
ref: 1551, Thomas More, “The Second Boke of the Communycacion of Raphael Hythlodaye, Concernynge the Best State of a Commen Wealthe: Cõteynyng the Discription of Utopia, with a Large Declaration of the Godly Gouernement, and of All the Good Lawes and Orders of the Same Ilande. Of Their Iourneyenge or Trauaylynge abrode, with Dyuers Other Matters Cunnyngly Reasoned & Wittilie Discussed.”, in Raphe Robynson [i.e., Ralph Robinson], transl., A Fruteful, and Pleasaunt Worke of the Best State of a Publyque Weale, and of the Newe Yle Called Utopia: […], London: […] [Steven Mierdman for] Abraham Vele, […], →OCLC, signature [M.vj.], verso:
topics: entertainment
lifestyle
music
glosses: A difference in pitch between sounds; an interval.
examples: text: The distance to Petersborough is thirty miles.
text: From Moscow, the distance is relatively short to Saint Petersburg, relatively long to Novosibirsk, but even greater to Vladivostok.
glosses: The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
topics: boxing
government
hobbies
lifestyle
martial-arts
military
politics
sports
war
glosses: The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
The maximum amount of space between a boxer and their opponent within which the boxer can punch effectively.
topics: boxing
government
hobbies
lifestyle
martial-arts
military
politics
sports
war
glosses: The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
Often in go the distance, last the distance, or stay the distance: the scheduled duration of a bout.
examples: text: [William] Page. I haue heard the French-man hath good skill in his Rapier. / [Robert] Shal[low]. Tut ſir: I could haue told you more: In theſe times you ſtand on diſtance: your Paſſes, Stoccado's, and I knovv not vvhat: […]
ref: c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 45, column 1:
topics: fencing
government
hobbies
lifestyle
martial-arts
military
politics
sports
war
glosses: The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
The amount of space between a fencer and their opponent, which the fencer tries to control in order to gain an advantage over the opponent.
examples: text: THere vvere a Great many Brave, Sightly Horſes vvith Rich Trappings that vvere brought out One day to the Courſe, and Only One Plain Nag in the Company that made ſport for All the reſt. But vvhen they came at laſt to the Tryal, This vvas the Horſe that ran the VVhole Field out of Diſtance, and VVon the Race. / The MORAL. Our Senſes are No Competent Judges of the Excellencies of the Mind.
ref: 1692, Roger L’Estrange, “[The Fables of Abstemius, &c.] Fab[le] CCCXXXIX. A Plain Horse Wins the Prize.”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC, page 296:
topics: hobbies
horse-racing
horseracing
horses
lifestyle
pets
racing
sports
glosses: The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
Originally, the space measured back from the winning post which a racehorse running in a heat must reach when the winner has covered the whole course, in order to run in a subsequent heat; also, the point on the racecourse that space away from the winning post; now, the point on a racecourse 240 yards from the winning post.
topics: government
military
politics
war
glosses: The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
The amount of space between soldiers or cavalry riders marching or standing in a rank; also, the amount of space between such ranks.
topics: hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
The complete length of a course over which a race is run.
examples: text: There was a little light / That twinkled in the misty distance: […]
ref: 1813, Percy Bysshe Shelley, “Canto II”, in Queen Mab; […], London: […] P. B. Shelley, […], →OCLC, page 21:
text: 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.
ref: 1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Two. The First of the Three Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 48:
text: [W]e hear / A trumpet in the distance pealing news / Of better, and Hope, […]
ref: 1847, Alfred Tennyson, “Part IV”, in The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 68:
glosses: Chiefly preceded by the, especially in into or in the distance: the place that is far away or remote.
examples: text: 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.
ref: 1711 May, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Criticism, London: […] W[illiam] Lewis […]; and sold by W[illiam] Taylor […], T[homas] Osborn[e] […], and J[ohn] Graves […], →OCLC, page 12:
text: [Julius] Cæſar is ſtill diſpoſed to give us Terms, / And vvaits at Diſtance 'till he hears from Cato.
ref: 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act V, scene i, page 60:
text: 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.
ref: 1799, Thomas Campbell, “The Pleasures of Hope; Part First”, in The Pleasures of Hope; in Two Parts. With Other Poems, Edinburgh: […] Mundell & Son; London: Longman & Rees, and J. Wright, […], →OCLC, page 3, lines 5–8:
text: Afar the Contadino's song is heard, / Rude, but made sweet by distance;—[…]
ref: a. 1823 (date written), Percy Bysshe Shelley, “Letter to —⁠—”, in Mary W[ollstonecraft] Shelley, editor, Posthumous Poems of Percy Bysshe Shelley, London: […] [C. H. Reynell] for John and Henry L[eigh] Hunt, […], published 1824, →OCLC, page 68:
text: But what did Scrooge care? It was the very thing he liked. To edge his way along the crowded paths of life, warning all human sympathy to keep its distance, was what the knowing ones call "nuts" to Scrooge.
ref: 1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave I. Marley’s Ghost.”, in A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 5:
glosses: The state of being separated from something else, especially by a long way; the state of being far off or remote; farness, remoteness.
examples: text: He had promised to perform this task, but did not go the distance.
glosses: The entire amount of progress to an objective.
examples: text: the distance between a descendant and their ancestor
text: We’re narrowing the distance between the two versions of the bill.
glosses: The state of remoteness or separation in some way other than space or time.
examples: text: For ſhe vvas ſought by ſpirits of ritcheſt cote, / But kept cold diſtance, and did thence remoue, / To ſpend her liuing in eternall loue.
ref: 1609, William Shakespeare, “A Louers Complaint”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC, signature L, recto:
text: [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, […]
ref: 1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC, signature Ee, verso, lines 6–10:
text: In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for its own select circle—a club, or society, of habitués, who met every evening for a pipe and a cheerful glass. […] Strangers might enter the room, but they were made to feel that they were there on sufferance; they were received with distance and suspicion.
ref: 1892, Walter Besant, “The Select Circle”, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 46:
synonyms: alienation
glosses: 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.
synonyms: standoffishness
unfriendliness
unsociableness
glosses: Excessive reserve or lack of friendliness shown by a person; aloofness, coldness.
examples: text: [T]o your eye, / Theſe (Madame) that vvithout your diſtance lie, / Muſt either miſt, or nothing ſeeme to be, […]
ref: a. 1631 (date written), J[ohn] Donne, “To the Countesse of Huntington”, in Poems, […] with Elegies on the Authors Death, London: […] M[iles] F[lesher] for John Marriot, […], published 1639, →OCLC, page 191:
text: 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.
ref: 1655, Thomas Fuller, “Section II. To Mr. Thomas Bowyer of the Old Jury Merchant.”, in The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, book VIII, subsection 33 (Of Those who Died in Prison), page 23:
glosses: The rank to which an important person belongs.
examples: text: 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: […]
ref: c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], page 140, column 1:
text: 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.
ref: 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Seditions and Troubles”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC, page 88:
text: 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; […]
ref: 1667 September 20 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Samuel Pepys, Mynors Bright, transcriber, “September 10th, 1667”, in Henry B[enjamin] Wheatley, editor, The Diary of Samuel Pepys […], volume VII, London: George Bell & Sons […]; Cambridge: Deighton Bell & Co., published 1896, →OCLC, page 107:
text: [T]he true Reaſon vvhy I did not mention her before, vvas, that I apprehended there vvas ſome little Diſtance betvveen them, vvhich I hoped to have the Happineſs of accommodating.
ref: 1751 December (indicated as 1752), Henry Fielding, “Mr. Booth Continues His Story. […]”, in Amelia. […], volume I, London: […] [William Strahan] for A[ndrew] Millar […], →OCLC, book II, pages 107–108:
glosses: The state of disagreement or dispute between people; dissension.
examples: text: [T]hough you ſee / The King is kind, I hope your modeſty / VVill knovv, vvhat diſtance to the Crovvn is due.
ref: 1665 (first performance), John Dryden, The Indian Emperour, or, The Conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards. […], London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for H[enry] Herringman […], published 1667, →OCLC, Act I, scene ii, page 4:
text: I vvill not ſift into them too minutely; for I'll obſerve the reſpect and diſtance that's due to him from his Scholar: […]
ref: 1699, Richard Bentley, “A Dissertation upon the Epistles of Phalaris”, in A Dissertation upon the Epistles of Phalaris. With an Answer to the Objections of the Honourable Charles Boyle, Esquire, London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for Henry Mortlock […], and John Hartley […], →OCLC, page 287:
text: Third plain Reaſon of the Publick Honours done to the Magiſtrate is, that he may not only be ſecure, but had alſo in due Eſtimation and Reverence by all thoſe vvho are ſubject to him. 'Tis by Reſpect and Diſtance that Authority is upheld; and 'tis by Outvvard Marks and Enſigns of Honour that Reſpect is ſecured; eſpecially from Vulgar Minds, vvhich do not enter into the true Reaſons of Things, but are govern'd by Appearances.
ref: 1706 October 9 (Gregorian calendar), Francis Atterbury, A Sermon Preach’d at the Guild-Hall Chapel, London, Septemb. 28. 1706. Being the Day of the Election of the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor. […], London: […] E. P. [Edmund Parker?] for Jonah Bowyer, […], →OCLC, page 7:
text: Slipſlop, vvho had preſerved hitherto a Diſtance to her Lady, […] anſvvered her Miſtreſs very pertly, […]
ref: 1742, Henry Fielding, “What Passed betwee the Lady and Mrs. Slipslop, in which We Prophesy there are Some Strokes which Every One will Not Truly Comprehend at the First Reading”, in The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews, and of His Friend Mr. Abraham Adams. […], volume I, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book I, page 46:
text: It is not to be thought that, however strange and uncommon I might think her liberal and unreserved communications, a young man of two-and-twenty was likely to be severely critical on a beautiful girl of eighteen, for not observing a proper distance towards him; […]
ref: 1817 December 31 (indicated as 1818), [Walter Scott], chapter [VI], in Rob Roy. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co. […]; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC, pages 128–129:
glosses: Often followed by to or towards: an attitude of remoteness or reserve which respect requires; hence, ceremoniousness.
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Related terms: distant