afar

adverb (only in phrases)

«afar» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

Everyday

(old-fashioned or literary) Far away, at a great distance. Used mostly in "from afar". tree →

In the lessons

Used in stories, poems and songs: travellers came from afar; she admired him from afar (from a distance, without talking to him). Phrases: from afar, near and afar.

Examples

Visitors came from afar to see the festival. tree →
We watched the fireworks from afar. tree →
He admired the famous singer from afar. tree →
From afar, the mountain looked blue. tree →
Wise men travelled from afar in the old story. tree →
The castle could be seen from afar. tree →
“Drown!” answered Pinocchio from afar, happy at his escape. tree →

Note

Almost always "from afar". Literary; in everyday speech say "from far away" or "from a distance". Not used as "the shop is afar" (say "far away").

In Jewish tradition

Miriam watches Moses from afar, Abraham sees the mountain from afar, and the people stand afar at Sinai.

Interpretation. The rabbis read the people standing afar at Sinai as awe before God's presence, while Moses alone drew near.

Examples

And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him. (Torah EXO.2.4, JPS 1917) tree →
On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. (Torah GEN.22.4, JPS 1917) tree →
And the people stood afar off; but Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. (Torah EXO.20.21, JPS 1917) tree →
Why standest Thou afar off, O LORD? (Writings PSA.10.1, JPS 1917) tree →
All men have looked thereon; man beholdeth it afar off. (Writings JOB.36.25, JPS 1917) tree →
She is like the merchant-ships; she bringeth her food from afar. (Writings PRO.31.14, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Almost always "from afar". Literary; in everyday speech say "from far away" or "from a distance". Not used as "the shop is afar" (say "far away").

Early Modern English

Meaning

At a great distance. tree →

Then and now

Today it is used only in old-fashioned phrases such as "from afar". Here it is used as an ordinary word for "far off".

Examples

And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him. (Torah EXO.2.4, JPS 1917) tree →
“Drown!” answered Pinocchio from afar, happy at his escape. (The Adventures of Pinocchio) tree →
On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. (Torah GEN.22.4, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Today: far away.

On Mova

Trees and pragmatics of «afar» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«afar» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «afar» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«afar» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «afar» in the Early Modern English dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«afar» in the Early Modern English dictionary on Mova free.

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