afar

¹

[uh-fahr]

adverb

1. from, at, or to a distance; far away (usually followed byoff ).

   He saw the castle afar off.

Afar

²

[ah-fahr]

noun

plural

Afars, Afara ,

plural

Afar .

1. a member of a nomadic Muslim people living in Eritrea, Djibouti, and northern Ethiopia.

2. the Northern Cushitic language spoken by the Afars.

afar

/ əˈfɑː /

adverb

1. at, from, or to a great distance

noun

1. a great distance (esp in the phrase from afar )

Word History and Origins

Origin of afar¹

1125–75; Middle English a fer, on ferr; replacing Old English feorran. See a- ¹ (perhaps also a- ² for the meaning “from”), far

Word History and Origins

Origin of afar¹

C14: a fer, altered from earlier on fer and of fer; see _a- ², _far

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. from afar, from a long way off.

   The princess saw him riding toward her from afar.

Example Sentences

Bates started sensing the trend while watching the team from afar, gaining a different perspective during a two-week medical absence in early August to address blood clots in his leg.

From Los Angeles Times

Shock has a curious effect on people, even those who experience it from afar.

From Salon

We are no longer watching them from afar.

From Los Angeles Times

“She’s definitely coaching from afar, and she’s so excited,” Williams said.

From Los Angeles Times

Some watched from afar, with the world's eyes seemingly on this small North East Lincolnshire town.

From BBC