| 释义 |
▪ I. ‖ far, n. Obs.
[Latin.]
A coarse kind of wheat; spelt.
c1420Pallad. on Husb. xii. 1 Novembre wol with whete & far besowe. 1601Holland Pliny II. 138 As for the bearded wheat Far, there is a certaine worme breeding in it like to a moth. 1624Middleton Game at Chess v. iii, Cockles from Chios, frank'd and fatted vp With Far and Sapa, Flower and cockted Wine.
▪ II. far, adv.|fɑː(r)|
Forms: 1–4 feor(r, (3 south. veor), 2–3 (9 dial.) fur, 3–6 for, (3 forre), 2–6 fer(r(e, 3–4 south. ver(re, (2 fir, 3 fear, feȝer, feir, 4 fere, 5 feer), 3–7 farr(e, (4–7 fare), 3– far. Compar. 1 fier(r, fyr(r, 2, 4 fir, 3–4 (9 dial.) fur, 4–5 furre, fyrre, 7 furr, 5 far, 2–6 ferrer, (4–6 ferrere), 2–3 ferror, 4–7 farrer, 5–6 farrar. Superl. 1 fyrrest, 3–5 ferrest, 3–6 farrest, (4 furrest, 7 farst).
[OE. feor(r corresponds to OFris. fir, OS. fer (Du. ver), OHG. fer, ON. fiarre, Goth. fairra:—OTeut. *ferr- (the OTeut. form of the suffix is not determinable with certainty; a distinct but synonymous type appears in OS. and OHG. ferro, MHG. verre), f. OTeut. root fer-:—OAryan per-, whence Gr. πέρᾱν, Skr. paras, beyond.
The forms with final -e in 13–14th c. belong etymologically to the derivative ferren; subsequently the monosyllabic ferre, farre, is a mere variant spelling of fer, far. The OE. comparative fierr, fyrr (:—*ferriz) began in 12th c. to give place to a new formation on the positive, ferrer, -or; this survived till the 17th c. in the form farrer; after that period the comparative and superlative remained only in dialects, being superseded in educated use by farther, farthest: see farther.]
1. At a great distance, a long way off. Const. from, (colloq.) off. Also with advbs. away, off, out.
a. in space.
c900Bæda's Hist. i. i. §3 We witan heonan noht feor oþer ealond. c1025Interl. v. Rule St. Benet I. 85 Þa eallunga feor synd on ᵹeswince. c1205Lay. 543 Achalon heihte an flum Þe nes noht feor from heom. a1300Cursor M. 4933 (Cott.) Theues..of a cuntre þat heþen es far. 1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 7650 Ilk planete es ferrer þan other fra us. c1380Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 184 Sum ferrer and sum nerrer. c1420Sir Amadace (Camd.) xvi, A marchand of this citè Was fer oute in a-nothir cuntre. c1440Promp. Parv. 156 Fer, or fer a-way, procul. c1485Digby Myst. (1882) iv. 112, I was not farre hence. 1490Caxton Eneydos x. 40 Whiche caused grete fere and drede vnto the countreys nygh neyghbours and also ferre of. 1549Compl. Scot. vi. 80 He vil see ane schip farrar on the seye. 1550Crowley Epigr. 211 A Spittlehouse, no farre from where his dwelling was. 1647H. More Song of Soul ii. ii. ii. iii, Things near seem further off; farst off, the nearst at hand. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 17 The painted Lizard, and the Birds of Prey..be far away. 1711Steele Spect. No. 63 ⁋7 Not far from these was another Set of merry People. 1808Scott Marm. ii. i, Far upon Northumbrian seas. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 10 He is likely to be not far off himself. 1879J. Burroughs Locusts & Wild H. (1884) 263 The Green Mountains..seen careering along the horizon far to the south-west.
b. far and near or nigh: in every part, everywhere. far or near: anywhere. far nor near: nowhere.
a1000Crist 390 (Gr.) Feor and neah. c1175Lamb. Hom. 137 To..beon iwurðegede fir and neor. a1250Owl & Night. 921 East and west, feor and neor. a1300Cursor M. 17288 + 213 (Cott.) Marie..loked farre & neghe. c1430Hymns Virg. (1867) 107 Þere is no man feer ne neer. 1587Turberv. Trag. T. (1837) 96 The brute was blowne abrode both farre and nye. [1629: see 5.] 1631Gouge God's Arrows iii. §67. 305 Memorable matters, worthy to be knowne farre and neare. 1667Milton P.L. vi. 295, I..have sought thee farr and nigh. a1704R. L'Estrange (J.), I have been hunting..far and near..to find out a remedy. 1797Mrs. Radcliffe Italian xiii, But I could see nothing of them far or near.
c. in past time. Cf. far-off.
1362Langl. P. Pl. B. xv. 226 In a freres frokke he was yfounde ones Ac it is ferre agoo in seynt Fraunceys tyme. 1611Shakes. Wint. T. iv. iv. 442 Farre then Deucalion off.
d. fig. with reference to unlikeness, alienation of feeling, etc. Often elliptically in phrase (so) far from ―ing (used when something is denied and something opposite asserted). Also interjectionally, far from it.
1534Whitinton tr. Tullyes Offices i. C v, This maner is as ferre distaunt from offyce..that [etc.]. 1611Bible Ps. lxxiii. 27 They that are farre from thee, shall perish. 1648Boyle Seraph. Love xix. (1700) 116 Gods love is so far from resembling the usual sort of Friends. a1661Fuller Worthies i. 150 So far from imitating the industry of their Ancestors..that [etc.]. 1840De Quincey Essenes iii. Wks. 1890 VII. 166 So far..from shocking his [the Jew's] prejudices..the error of the early Christians would lie the other way. 1873Black Pr. Thule xiv. 221 It was in a far from unfriendly fashion. 1874G. W. Dasent Tales from Fjeld 128 He was not far off losing both wit and sense. Ibid. 154 He was not far off being half-dead of thirst. 1882Wicksteed tr. Kuenen's Hibbert Lect. iii. 127 The truly religious tone..not unmixed, indeed, far from it, but unmistakable.
e. Phrases. far be it from (me, etc.): a form of deprecation = ‘God forbid that (I, etc.).’ I'll be far (enough) if, etc.: a strong negation or refusal (vulgar). far to † find, seek: (a) hard to discover, out of the way; (b) of persons: at a loss.
1382Wyclif Gen. xliv. 17 Josephe answerde, Fer be it fro me, that Y thus do. 1393Langl. P. Pl. C. xi. 77 Beþ þre fayre vertues and beeþ nauht ferr to fynde. 1576Fleming Panopl. Epist. 163 Bee it farre from me to utter any such speache. 1667Earl of Cardigan in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 9 Farre be it from me..to enter into dispute with your Lordship. 1709Steele Tatler No. 148 ⁋4 Far be it that I should attempt to lessen the Acceptance which Men of this Character meet with in the World. 1752Foote Taste ii. Wks. 1799 I. 23 I'll be fur enough if it en't a May-game. 1836J. Gilbert Chr. Atonem. viii. (1852) 225 Far, infinitely far, be such imputation from our thoughts. 1874Gladstone in Contemp. Rev. Oct. 667 If instances must be cited, they are not far to seek. 1879Geo. Eliot Theo. Such xvi. 285 Many minds..are far to seek for the grounds of social duty. 1888Sheffield Gloss. s.v., ‘I'll be far if I do’ means ‘I will not.’
2. a. To a great distance; to a remote place. far and wide: see wide adv. 1 b.
c825Vesp. Psalter ix. 22 Tohwon dryhten ᵹewite ðu feor. c1205Lay. 1720 He ferde to feor ut from his iueren. c1250Gen. & Ex. 2616 Wilt ðu, leuedi, ic go fear out. c1350Will. Palerne 2781 To fle..fer away from þe see. c1450St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 2184 Farrer fra men to be remoued. 1601Weever Mirr. Martyrs D ij, I wisht the popes dominion Might stretch no furr than Callis Ocean. 1610Shakes. Temp. ii. i. 110 She..is so farre from Italy remoued. 1667Milton P.L. xi. 727 He ceas'd Contending, and remov'd his Tents farr off. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) IV. 329 A..habitation, from which it seldom ventures far.
b. To a great distance in various directions; over a large area; widely.
c1200Vices & Virtues (1888) 45 Carite sprat his bowes on bræde and on lengðe swiðe ferr. c1400Destr. Troy 216 Þi fame shall goo fer. c1440York Myst. xi. 80 So sall þe folke no farrar sprede. 1692J. Barnes Pref. Verses in E. Walker Epictetus' Mor., An Heathen, far for vertue Fam'd.
†c. to cast far: to make far-reaching plans. (Cf. far-caster.) So to bethink far. Obs.
a1300Cursor M. 8269 (Cott.) Ferr and depe he vmbithoght. c1394P. Pl. Crede 485 Fer he [þe devell] casteþ toforn þe folke to destroye.
3. To or at an advanced point of progress.
a. in space. (Down to the 15th c. the vb. go is often omitted after will, shall, may, can, etc.)
a1300Fragm. Pop. Sc. (Wright) 210 Whan the sonne hath thider i-drawe the mist thurf hire hete, Hit ne mai no fur for the colde. a1300Cursor M. 17288 + 392 (Cott.) Iesus made hom semblant as he wald ferrer goo. c1330R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 308 Ferrere mot he nouht, Scotlond forto se. c1386Chaucer Friar's T. 89 Sayde this yiman, ‘Wiltow fer to day?’ c1400Lanfranc's Cirurg. 303 It is sett undir a mannes ers to drawe out þe emeroides þat sittiþ hed fer yn. c1450St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 6091 Ay þe ferrer þat he gase. c1460Towneley Myst. 276 No far thou shalle. 1583Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. 1 How farre purpose you to trauell this way. 1709Steele & Addison Tatler No. 114 ⁋1 We were now got pretty far into Westminster. a1801R. Gall Tint Quey Poems 173 Here, or we gae farer ben, Aiblins it's fitting to let ken To them wha reads, that [etc.]. 1814Southey Roderick iii, We travell'd fast and far. 1845tr. Sue's Wandering Jew xvii. 86 Long bamboos which are driven far into the ground.
b. fig. with reference to progressive action or condition: To a great length or degree. far gone: in an advanced stage; see also go v. 48 f. to go far to (produce a certain effect): to tend greatly. † to speak a person far: to go to great lengths in his praise.
a1300Cursor M. 11011 (Gött.) Bot elizabeth was ferrer gane. 1360–80Wyclif Tracts xxii. (1879) 311 Þei shewen ferrere how þei ben disciplis of fals pharisees. c1430Chev. Assigne 311, I kan sey no furre. 1545Brinklow Compl. 8 This matter is so farre gone, that there is no remedy. 1576Fleming Panopl. Epist. Q iij b, Least by presuming to farre, I should loose my selfe. 1579Twyne Phisicke agst. Fortune ii. xc. 278 a, Who is so mad..vnlesse he be to farre gone, that standeth not in feare of them? 1579Fulke Heskins' Parl. 382 Maister Heskins store is farre spent. 1611Shakes. Cymb. i. i. 24 You speake him farre. 1668Hale Pref. Rolle's Abridgm. 3 Where the subject of any Law is single..prudence..may go far at one Essay to provide a fit law. 1704Swift T. Tub Apol., When these two enter far into the composition of any work. 1709Steele Tatler No. 34 ⁋4 There's no carrying a Metaphor too far, when a Lady's Charms are spoke of. a1715Burnet Own Time (1823) I. 377 To do all they could to hinder him to engage too far. c1813Mrs. Sherwood Stories Ch. Catech. iv. 19 Both..very tipsy..one..so far gone, that she could not walk straight. 1818Cruise Digest (ed. 2) IV. 233 This was going too far. 1845McCulloch Taxation ii. x. (1852) 361 This high duty..went far to enable the distillers to fix the price of spirits. 1847Grote Greece ii. xlvii. (1862) IV. 191 The Corinthians had gone too far..to admit of listening to arbitration. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 46 You are already far gone in your love.
c. in time. † With genitive, far days, far nights: late in the day or night (cf. Gr. πόρρω τῆς ἡµέρας, τῆς νυκτός); in later use also far-day, -night (cf. 8 c).
a1400–50Alexander 3900 Be þai had fyneschid þis fiȝt was ferre in with euyn. c1440Generydes 66 A man right ferre in age. a1450Knt. de la Tour (1868) 45 She happed to abide so longe on a sonday that it was fer dayes. 1533Bellenden Livy i. (1822) 135 He wes waik, and fer run in yeris. 1561T. Hoby tr. Castiglione's Courtyer K iij b, It was farre in nighte. 1577–87Holinshed Chron. III. 1148/2 It is far nights. 16022nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass. iii. ii. (Arb.) 42 But the day is farre spent, M. Recorder. 1631Celestina viii. 98 O how farre daies is it? 1662J. Davies Voy. Ambass. 278 It was far-night ere we got away. 1732Berkeley Alciphr. ii. §26 The day being now far spent. 1870E. Peacock Ralf Skirl. III. 2 Far gone as the day was. 1885Manch. Exam. 10 Sept. 5/5 A heavy downpour which continued far into the night.
4. By a great interval, widely.
a. of separation in place; fig. of estrangement or alienation.
c1400Rom. Rose 3483 His mercy was to ferre bihynde. 1548Gest Pr. Masse I v a, The heaven sainctes who be farrer distanted..from us then..London..from Cambredge. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 12 These two Sees were farre asonder, that is to say, Caunterbury and Yorke. 1603Knolles Hist. Turks 649 Following not far after himself. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 306 He..leaves the Scythian Arrow far behind. 1730–46Thomson Autumn 1284 Far distant from their native soil. 1813Scott Rokeby i. xvii, Mortham's lord grew far estranged From the bold heart with whom he ranged.
b. qualifying adjs., advbs., or their equivalents, implying excess, defect, or variation from a standard. † In 16–17th c. often prefixed to adjs. or advbs. of negative import, as in far unfit = far from fit.
a1375Joseph Arim. 552 Þei were weri of-fouȝten and feor ouer-charged. 1521Fisher Wks. (1876) 348 This man gothe fer wyde from the streyght waye. 1555Philpot Let. in Coverdale Lett. Martyrs (1564) 229 God knoweth it is written far uneasily. 1564Grindal Fun. Serm. Emp. Ferdinand Rem. (1843) 29 Preparations afore death..far out of square. 1614R. Tailor Hog hath lost Pearl in Dodsley O. Pl. (1780) VI. 390 Then my Lord, your father is far impatient. 1631Weever Anc. Fun. Mon. 532 A match thought farre vnfit for such a man. 1835Sir J. Ross Narr. 2nd Voy. xli. 545 We were often far underfed. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 207 They were not far wrong.
c. of inequality or unlikeness. Often with comparatives or superlatives; sometimes more emphatically far (and) away. Also with vbs., as to differ, exceed, excel, etc. far other: widely different. † to distinguish far: to make a wide distinction.
c900Bæda's Hist. iii. xiv. §2 Feor on oþre wisan. a1400–50Alexander 3922 A beste..Fere fersere þan an olifaunt. 1496Act 12 Hen. VII, c. 6 They be sold far under the Price that they be worth. 1545Joye Exp. Dan. v. 75 a, He passed farre his grandfather in synne. 1562J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 20 Ye be better fed then taught farre awaie. 1563Shute Archit. D i a, Which differeth not farre from the declaration of Vitruuius. 1587Golding De Mornay xxiv. 373 One that beheld a farre other beauty..and tasted a farre other pleasure than of the worlde. 1593Shakes. Lucr. 81 Which far exceeds his barren skill to show. 1611Bible Transl. Pref. 2 A farre most excellent weight of glory. 1646Duke of Hamilton in H. Papers (Camden) 124 No Englishman will..hold..that Scotland must be satisfied with it, farre leese that it be of the Scots framing. 1667Milton P.L. ix. 862 To answer and resound farr other Song. a1687Petty Pol. Arith. i. (1691) 26 In France..the Hugonots are..far the greatest Traders. 1695Woodward Nat. Hist. Earth (1723) 9 Of this various Matter..the far greatest Part of the Terrestrial Globe consists. 1709Steele Tatler No. 92 ⁋1 With us it is far otherwise. 1719De Foe Crusoe II. vi. 156 You will allow it to consist with me, as a Roman, to distinguish far between a Protestant and a Pagan. 1743J. Morris Serm. ii. 53 Paul uses this argument to prove charity far preferable. 1773F. Burney Early Diary (1889) I. 187 The delight..more far away than I have ever received. 1852Democratic Rev. 11 Far and away the greatest. 1880T. A. Spalding Eliz. Demonol. 22 A slight surrender of principle was a far surer road to success. 1880Trollope Duke's Children i. xxi. 253 He was far-and-away the cleverest of his party. 1883W. E. Norris Thirlby Hall xxxiv, You are far and away the greatest scoundrel I ever saw. 1885Law Reports 29 Ch. Div. 528 The testator's estates were..incumbered..to an amount far beyond their value.
†5. From a remote source. Obs. exc. in Comb.: see far-fetched, etc.
1629Maxwell tr. Herodian (1635) 65 For this purpose all kinde of wilde beasts were brought farre and neere. 1697tr. C'tess D'Aunoy's Trav. (1706) 34 Here's the Etymology of a Word drawn far enough.
6. Preceded by as, how, so, thus, the word (like many other quantitative advbs. and adjs.) often undergoes a change of meaning, the notion of definite quantity being substituted for the primary notion of great quantity. Hence the following modifications of the preceding senses:
a. To or at a definite distance.
c1250Gen. & Ex. 1238 Bi al-so fer so a boȝe mai ten ðor sat his moder. a1300Cursor M. 506 (Cott.) How farr es in to hell pitte. 1711Addison Spect. No. 42 ⁋4 When there is a Battle in the Hay-Market Theatre, one may hear it as far as Charing-Cross. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. xxvii. 215, I had not thought it possible to see so far through so dense a storm.
b. Up to or at a particular point of advance. Also, as far as that goes (used to express disagreement) = on the contrary; as far as, so far as [so n. 35], in so far as it concerns (me, etc.); as for.
a1300Cursor M. 2253 (Cott.) Now we haue vs sped sa ferr. c1489Caxton Sonnes of Aymon ii. 60 Sith that it is soo ferre come that ye wyll not here vs, we shall kepe owr peas. 1535Coverdale 1 Chron. xvii[i]. 16 Who am I? and what is my house, yt thou hast broughte me thus farre? 1611Bible Jer. li. 64 Thus farre are the words of Ieremiah. 1626Bacon Sylva §105 If a Man would endeuour to raise or fall his Voice..as farre as an Eighth. 1724De Foe Mem. Cavalier (1840) 172 The king was almost as far as Banbury. 1833Cruse Eusebius i. v. 29 Thus far Josephus. 1841Elphinstone Hist. Ind. I. 469 Menander..went on as far as the Isamus. 1855Thackeray Newcomes I. 221 She could make an ormolu bracelet go as far as another woman's emerald clasps. Mod. So far no great harm has been done. 1905A. Lang Adv. among Bks. 231 As far as that goes..most of you were highly favoured. 1926H. W. Fowler Mod. Eng. Usage 170/1 As or so far as x cannot be used as short for as far as x goes or so far as concerns x. 1939H. S. Canby Thoreau xiv. 217 The cabin..was in perfect condition so far as frame and covering until 1868. 1960J. F. Kennedy in U.S. News & World Report 26 Sept. 76/1 As far as whether I could attend this sort of a function in your church..then I could attend.
c. To a certain extent or degree. as far as (I, etc.) see him: normally in contexts implying distrust.
a1300Cursor M. 16386 (Cott.) Sacles es he sa feir se sum i can. c1400Rom. Rose 2209 Hated bothe of olde and yong, As fer as Gaweyn the worthy, Was preised for his curtesie. 1477Earl Rivers Dictes (Caxton) 1 As fer as my wrecchednes wold suffyse. 1577B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. iii. (1586) 116 The bay [horse] is most of price as farre as I see at this daye. 1579Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 191 For thou..wilt not permit any (as farre as in thee lyeth) to be well employed. 1601J. Manningham in Shaks. C. Praise 45 A Citizen gaene soe farr in liking with him. 1606J. Day Ile Guls C2 Wil you trust him? Yes as farre as I see him. 1638Duke of Hamilton in H. Papers (Camden) 18 How fare I shall be abill to prevall uith him I can not yett tell. 1651Hobbes Leviath. i. viii. 35 He may be so farre a good man, as to be free from giving offence. 1751Jortin Serm. (1771) I. iii. 46 Such persons may so far conduce to the temporal prosperity of a nation. 1821J. Q. Adams in C. Davies Metr. Syst. iii. (1871) 119 But this law so far as it prescribed a new bushel, had never been executed. 1835Thirlwall Greece I. 423 To decide how far he deserved it. 1848Trollope Kellys & O'Kellys I. i. 15 He knows what he's about, and isn't the man to thrust a Protesthant half as far as he'd see him. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 427 Let us endeavour to ascertain how far we are consistent with ourselves. 1969‘A. Gilbert’ Missing from Home xiii. 205 ‘She doesn't trust us as far as she can see us,’ Charlie remarked.
7. quasi-n.
a. † of, on far: see afar. † upon far: at a distance. from far: at a distance (cf. ferren). by far: by a great interval (= sense 4); see by 18 b. in so far: to such an extent.
a1300Cursor M. 6655 (Cott.) Þam thoght him hornd apon farr. Ibid. 13457 (Cott.) Fra ful ferr can þai til him seke. Ibid. 27643 (Cott.) Sin es fowler þan any deuil in hell by fer. c1380Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 17 Sum of hem comen fro ferre. c1400Mandeville (Roxb.) xix. 86 To þat ymage men commez fra ferre in pilgrimages. 1513–75Diurn. Occurrents (1833) 276 Thair wes the greiter slauchter be over far maid vpoun the Inglis. 1647H. More Philos. Devot. 43 Lo! from farre I you salute. 1737Whiston Josephus' Antiq. i. xix. §10 Thus far of his apology was made. 1764Goldsm. Trav. 28 That, like the circle bounding earth and skies, Allures from far. 1871Smiles Charac. x. (1876) 282 By far the largest class of readers. 1888Bryce Amer. Commw. I. viii. 104 Eloquence..imagination..or extent of knowledge, are all in so far a gain to him that [etc.].
†b. to have far to: to have a long way to go to, be far from. Obs.
1377Langl. P. Pl. B. xix. 477 Þe vyker had fer home & faire toke his leue. 1393Ibid. C. xii. 196 Folwe forþ þat fortune wol; thou hast ful fer to elde.
8. Combinations.
a. When far (in senses 1–5) qualifies a ppl. adj. used attributively, it is usually hyphened, thus giving rise to an unlimited number of quasi-compounds, as far-beaming, far-branching, far-embracing, far-extending, far-flying, far-going, far-ranging, far-travelled, etc.
1533More Answ. Poysoned Bk. Wks. 1047/1 Making one perfit person and one farpassing perfyt person of God and man together. 1596Spenser State Irel. 2 The manner rather of desperate men farre driven. 1598Chapman Iliad i. 19 Far-shooting Phœbus. 1601R. Yarington Two Lament. Traj. iii. ii. in Bullen O. Pl. IV, I will..live in some far-removed continent. a1649Drummond of Hawthornden Poems Wks. (1711) 31 These saphyre far-extending heights. 1688Addr. in Lond. Gaz. No. 2536/1 Your far distanced New England Subjects. 1725Pope Odyss. xix. 127 O Queen! whose far-resounding fame, Is bounded only by the starry frame. 1735Somerville Chase i. 272 Their Arms Far-gleaming, dart the same united Blaze. 1779–81Johnson L.P., Swift Wks. III. 404 Variegated by far-sought learning. 1784Cowper Task i. 184 Mighty winds That sweep the skirt of some far-spreading wood. 1812Byron Ch. Har. ii. xli, Leucadia's far-projecting rock of woe. 1820Keats St. Agnes xxix, Far-heard clarionet. 1827Hare Guesses (1859) 69 Expressing profound and farstretching thoughts in the simplest words. 1852J. A. Roebuck Hist. Whig Min. II. 32 The view was exceedingly offensive to the far-going reformers. 1854Excelsior II. 128 His venerable and far-travelled friend. 1857Ruskin Pol. Econ. Art 139 Consider what a far-branching, far-embracing good you have wrought. 1864Engel Mus. Anc. Nat. 232 Far-spread popularity. 1870tr. F. Marion's Wonderful Balloon Ascents i. i. 5 The far-flying comets. 1905Westm. Gaz. 9 Sept. 2/3 Far-travelled tourists. 1923Kipling Irish Guards in Gt. War I. 5 One single far-ranging rifle-bullet. 1939War Illustr. 4 Nov. 283/3 Far-flying squadrons over home waters and foreign seas had splendidly maintained our cause. 1959E. H. Carr Socialism in one Country II. xix. 201 The intellectuals whose far-ranging thought had provided the inspiration of the revolution. 1969Jane's Freight Containers 1968–69 240/3 Far-going mechanisation and cost-reduction is rendered possible.
b. rarely in similar quasi-comb. with vbl. ns., as far-flashing, far-withdrawal.
1822Shelley Hellas 331 The far-flashing of their starry lances Reverberates the dying light of day. 1866Howells Venet. Life xvii, Their..strange effect of far-withdrawal.
c. Special combinations: far-apart a., at a great distance (from); far-being vbl. n., the state of being at a distance; † far-born a., born long ago; far-darter, one who sends darts to or from a great distance; far-darting a., esp. as epithet of Apollo, the far-darter; † far-day, the latter part of the day [cf. 3 c]; far-distant a., at a great distance; far-eastern a., belonging to the extreme east; far-eyed a., = far-sighted a.; far-farer (rare), = far-goer; far-foamed a., fringed with foam for a great distance; far-goer, one who goes far, lit. and fig.; far-gone a., advanced to a great extent; far-northern a., lying in the extreme north; far-point (Optics), the extreme range; far-seeing a., = far-sighted 1; far-seen a., seen at a distance; also Sc. = far-sighted; far-shot a. = far-shooting; far-southern a., at the extreme south; far-thinking a., = far-sighted a. 1; † far-went a., that has wended or travelled far; far-western, belonging to the extreme west.
1865Punch 27 May 215/1 What, Sir, is the object of a railway? To do away with distance, and bring *far-apart scenes within the easy reach of all. 1955E. Bowen World of Love xi. 222 The sky..let fall far-apart tepid drops.
1580Sidney Arcadia (1622) 124 The desolation of the *far-being from comfort.
1672Wycherley Love in Wood iii. i, Nine-and-thirty years old, mistress? I'd have you to know I am no *far-born child.
1598Chapman Iliad i. 91 This is cause why heaven's *Far-darter darts These plagues amongst us. 1868Morris Earthly Par. (1870) I. ii. 500 Dimly he remembered..the sight Of the Far-darter.
1849Thoreau Week on Concord 199 And near at hand the *far-darting glances of the god. 1851Buckley Iliad 4 The wrath of Apollo, the far-darting king. 1871Whitman Passage to India (1872) 6 The far-darting beams of the spirit!
1655H. Vaughan Silex Scint. i. 74 *Far-day sullies flowres.
1793J. Barlow in Amer. Poems I. 86 *Far-distant land. 1936Mind XLV. 549 Modern astronomical researches into far-distant stars.
1913A. Fortescue Lesser Eastern Churches ii. 36 Edessa certainly was the chief see of *far-eastern Christendom.
a1882Emerson Wks. (1883) IX. 258 The height of Fancy's *far-eyed steep. 1903Hardy Dynasts i. vi. i. 109 The wariness That marks your usual far-eyed policy.
1861G. W. Dasent Burnt Njal II. 354 Thorwald Kodran's son, the *far-farer.
1820Keats Hyperion ii. 172 Murmurs, which his first endeavouring tongue Caught infant-like from the *far-foamed sands.
1841Gen. P. Thompson Exerc. (1842) VI. 358 The party which the *far-goers at least of the deliberants, believe to be the least undeserving of the two.
1778Conquerors 39 As drunken men who brave the dang'rous fight O'er sparkling glasses in the *far-gone night. 1831T. L. Peacock Crotchet Castle xvi, Which the far-gone innamorato found irresistible.
1856Kane Arct. Expl. I. xxiii. 309 The temperature of these *far-northern regions.
1876Bernstein Five Senses 72 The *far-point of the eye.
1837Longfellow Voices Night (1843) 42 The Poet..*far-seeing. 1848Lytton Harold viii. ii, Though wise and farseeing, Harold was not suspicious. 1943W. S. Churchill End of Beginning 240 The wise, far-seeing appeals of the American President.
1730–46Thomson Autumn 790 From lofty Caucasus *far seen by those, Who in the Caspian..toil. 1827Keble Chr. Y. Monday bef. Easter, Two silent nights and days In calmness for His far-seen hour He stays.
1615Chapman Odyss. viii. 453 Useful Mercury And *far-shot Phœbus.
1856Kane Arct. Expl. I. xxiii. 228 Commodore Wilkes in his *far-southern discovery of an Antarctic continent.
1937B. H. L. Hart Europe in Arms xv. 211 They can hardly fulfil such a *far-thinking role.
1609Bp. W. Barlow Answ. Nameless Cath. 191 The Gibeonites came to Iosua like *far-went Trauellers.
1589Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie 121 [Northern English] is not so Courtly..as our Southerne English is, no more is the *far Westerne mans speach.
▪ III. far, a.|fɑː(r)|
Forms: 1–4 feor(r, 2–6 fer, 3–7 farr, 5–7 farre, 3– far. Compar. 1 fyrra (fem. and neut. -e), 3–4 fyrre, furre, 3–6 ferre(r(e, 3 ferror(e, south. verrore, 4–7 farrer. Superl. 1 fyrrest, 3–5 ferrest, 3–6 farrest.
[OE. feorr = OFris. fer, fir, OS. fer, OHG. fer:—WGer. type *ferro-. As the adj. does not occur in Gothic or ON., it is prob. derived from the adv.]
1. Remote:
a. in space; chiefly of countries or places; occas. of persons, etc. the far east, north, west, south: the extreme eastern, etc. parts of a region, or of the world. Cf. Far West. † far absence: absence in a distant part.
a1000Wife's Complaint 47 (Gr.) Feorres folclondes. a1225Leg. Kath. 1565 Into þe ferreste ende of Alixandre. a1300Cursor M. 4820 (Cott.) Wee are o farr cuntre, Of a land hait chanaan. 1340Ayenb. 204 Huerof yealde filozofes hem uledden in-to uerre stedes in-to dezert. 1382Wyclif Joel iii. 8 They shule selle hem to Sabeis, a fer folc. c1450Mirour Saluacioun 1643 Thick ffolewastoure son..departid to ferre lande. c1489Caxton Sonnes of Aymon xxviii. 585 Folke cam..from ferre ways for to seke hym. 1548Hall Chron. 101 b, The Englishemen consideryng..the farre absence of their frendes. 1553Eden Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.) 8 To returne home from these farre countreys. a1605Montgomerie Misc. Poems (1886) xxxii. 38 Far foullis hes ay fair fethers, sum will say. 1682Dryden Mac Fl. 131 To far Barbadoes on the western main. 1808J. Barlow Columb. i. 45 A far dim watch-lamp's thrice reflected beam. 1822Shelley Hellas 813 What hearest thou? Mahmud. A far whisper. 1839Bailey Festus (1854) 56 It is fear which beds the far to-come with fire.
absol.c1386Chaucer Prol. 494 To visite The ferrest in his parish.
b. fig. of remoteness or difference in time, relationship, or nature.
1531Elyot Gov. ii. vi. (1557) 100 A vice moste ugly, and farrest from humanitee. 1583Hollyband Campo di Fior 309 How farre this fielde is to that which bordereth upon it. 1630Crashaw Poems 129 Pulling far history Nearer. 1859Tennyson Elaine 799 Sir Torre..Past up the still rich city to his kin His own far blood. 1860Hawthorne Marb. Faun (1879) II. xx. 200 So many far landmarks of time.
c. the far end, † the far: the very end, or extremity; the last stage (of life, strength, or resources). Now only dial.
c1400Destr. Troy 78 In this shall faithfully be founden to the fer ende, All þe dedis. Ibid. 8272 The next tym þou noyes me, þou neghis to þe fer. 1637Rutherford Lett. clxxxiii. (1862) I. 447 What standeth beyond the far-end of my sufferings..He knoweth. 1790W. Combe Devil upon Two Sticks in Eng. (1817) II. 58 Whose..love of pleasure will soon get to the far-end of a moderate fortune. 1855Robinson Whitby Gloss., He seems almost at the far end. 1888Sheffield Gloss. s.v. Far end, ‘Ah'm ommast at t' far end.’
2. Extending to a distance, long. far traveller: one who comes from or goes to a distance. † (a person) of a far fetch: far-reaching, far-sighted. † far way: a long way, by far.
c1340Cursor M. 11385 (Laud.) For els might not tho thre haue rawght to ride so farre wai, And come to cryst thilk day. 1393Langl. P. Pl. C xvii. 51 Of wyt and wysedome þat fer way is bettere Than richesse. 1508Fisher Psalms N vj b, Her grete & ferre Journey. 1550Coverdale Spir. Perle xxix, A merchant-man maketh far voyages and great journeys. 1574Hellowes Gueuara's Fam. Ep. (1577) 314 Some men so euill and of so farre a fetch, that [etc.]. 1605Verstegan Dec. Intell. ii. (1628) 30 A verie farre way from Africa. 1624Gataker Transubst. 204 Far travellers may lye by authority. 1820Scott Monast. xxix, You could not miss the road..it was neither far way nor foul gate. 1830Gen. P. Thompson Exerc. (1842) I. 287 It would not be a far stretch of intellect to infer.
†b. Of authority: Extensive.
c1400Apol. Loll. 29 God ȝaue him no farrer power.
†c. Of a difference in kind or value: Great. Obs.
1509Fisher Fun. Serm. C'tess Richmond Wks. (1876) 304 This shall be a farre dyfference. 1631Weever Anc. Fun. Mon. 578 Valued, at a farre vnder rate, to bee worth..ten pound.
†d. Of a person: Advanced (in age or knowledge). Obs.
c1340Cursor M. 15124 (Trin.) Þis ihesus..was so wis & so fer in lore. 1591Spenser M. Hubberd 218 As one farre in elde.
3. The remoter of two; in early use also in the comparative. † the far side (of a horse, etc.): the off or right-hand side. the fur ahin (Sc.): the hind right-hand (horse) in a team of four.
Prob. far here represents the original compar. form fyrre.
c1400Rowland & O. 1227 With him Rowlande and Olyvere Appon the ferrere syde. c1400Destr. Troy 9054 Priam the prise kyng..was feghtyng in the feld on the fer syde. 1486Bk. St. Albans D j b, Iff yowre hawke nym the fowle at the fer side of the Ryuer..Then she sleeth the fowle at the fer Jutty. 1540Act 32 Hen. VIII, c. 17 The farre ende of high holborn. 1617Markham Caval. ii. 4 The white fore-foote, on the right side, commonly cald the farre side. 1641Best Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 12 To give them [lambes]..the botte on the farre buttocke. 1724Lond. Gaz. No. 6294/3 The Coronett of the far Hoof before. 1768Sterne Sent. Journ. 95 She sat in a low chair on the far side of the shop. 1786Burns Inventory 20 My fur ahin's a wordy beast. 1883Stevenson Treasure Isl. iii. xiv. 110 On the far side of the open stood one of the hills.
▪ IV. † far, v. Obs. exc. dial.
Also 1 feorran, 3–5 fere, ferre, 4 south. dial. verri, pa. pple. yverred.
[OE. feorran, fyrran = OHG. firren, ON. firra:—OTeut. type *firrjan, f. *ferr-, far a.]
trans. To put far off, remove. In mod. dial. only in the expression of a wish (see quots.). Const. from; rarely with double obj.
Beowulf 156 Grendel..ne wolde wið manna hwone feorhbealo feorran. a1300E.E. Psalter lxxxvii. 19 Neghburgh and frend fered þou fra me. 1340Ayenb. 240 Þe stat of religion ssel by zuo yuerred uram þe wordle þet [etc.]. c1380Sir Ferumb. 3625 Richard was noȝt so ferred ys fon, þat hy hym þo ne seȝe. c1430Pilgr. Lyf Manhode ii. lxviii. (1869) 101 Thouh thou were forveyed other ferred from thi wey. 1855Mrs. Gaskell North & S. xvii, Pooh, wench! latter days be farred! 1863― Sylvia's L. (ed. 2) I. 189, I wish the man were farred who [etc.].
b. refl. and intr. for refl.
a1225Ancr. R. 76 He furseð (note ? firres [printed firnes]) him awei urommard ure stefne. c1315Shoreham 164 God wyste wel that man schold..uerry [printed nerry] Fram alle healthe. 1340Ayenb. 178 Þe uoȝel him uerreþ..uram þennes huer me brekþ his nest.
▪ V. far
obs. f. of fair and Sc. f. fare n. and v.
▪ VI. far
obs. var. of farrow, young pig. |