Main Entry: ¹far

Pronunciation: \ˈfär\

Function: adverb

Inflected Form(s): far·ther \-thər\ or fur·ther \ˈfər-\; far·thest or fur·thest \-thəst\

Etymology: Middle English fer, from Old English feorr; akin to Old High German ferro far, Old English faran to go — more at fare

Date: before 12th century

1 : at or to a considerable distance in space <wandered far from home>
2 a : to a great extent : much <far better methods> b : by a broad interval : widely <the far distant future>
3 : to or at a definite distance, point, or degree <as far as I know>
4 : to an advanced point or extent <a bright student will go far> <worked far into the night>
5 : at a considerable distance in time <not far from the year 1870>

— by far : far and away <is by far the best runner>

— far be it from : it would be inappropriate or impossible for <far be it from God, that he should do wickedness — Job 34:10(Authorized Version)>

— far from : of a distinctly different and especially opposite quality than <the trip was far from a failure>

— how far : to what extent, degree, or distance <didn't know how far to trust them>

— so far 1 : to a certain extent, degree, or distance <when the water rose so far, the villagers sought higher ground>
2 : up to the present <has written just one novel so far>

— thus far : so far <thus far our findings have been negative>