I. ˈfär, ˈfȧ(r adverb
( far·ther ˈfärthər, ˈfȧthə(r ; or fur·ther ˈfərthər, ˈfə̄thə(r, ˈfəithə(r, in southern US often ˈfəthə(r or ˈfəthər ; far·thest -thə̇st ; or fur·thest -thə̇st)
Etymology: Middle English fer, from Old English feorr; akin to Old High German ferro far, Old Norse fjarri, Gothic fairra far, Old English faran to go — more at fare
1.
a. : to a considerable distance in space : to a remote place
wandered far from home
the force of the gale was felt far inland
b. : at a considerable distance in space : at a remote place
lived far up the mountain
2. : at a considerable distance in time
this was not far from the year 1115 — H.O.Taylor
3.
a. : to a great extent : much — often used with comparatives and superlatives
the book is far richer than any of the others I have recommended — M.R.Ridley
b. : by a broad space : widely
the new site is never far distant from the old — C.D.Forde
c. : of a distinctly different quality or attitude — usually used with from
it is far from easy to say what makes a nominee … emerge as the successful candidate — H.J.Laski
news reporters are far from blind — F.L.Mott
4.
a. : to an advanced point or extent : a long way
if the right peace officer is assigned to this contact work he can go far — Spencer Parratt
went far toward determining the schedule and character of all his subsequent service — J.C.Archer
drove the stake far into the ground
b. : to a late hour
works or reads far into the night — Gertrude Samuels
•
- by far
- how far
- so far
- thus far
II. adjective
( farther or further ; farthest or furthest )
Etymology: Middle English fer, from Old English feorr; akin to Old Frisian fīr far, Old Saxon ferr; derivative from the root of Old English feorr, adverb
1.
a. : remote in space : distant
snow is shining on the far volcanoes — Muriel Rukeyser
b. : distinctly different in quality or relationship
c. : remote in time
go back in the far past to a common origin — A.L.Kroeber
2.
a. : of a considerable distance : long
a far journey
b. : of notable extent : comprehensive
a man of far vision and deep convictions — Catalog of Hollins College
3. : the more distant of two
on the near side was a tobacconist's and on the far a public house — F.W.Crofts
III.
dialect Britain
variant of where
IV. abbreviation
1. farad
2. farthing