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# 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/afar/#m1)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/afar/#x1)
- We watched the fireworks from afar. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/afar/#x2)
- He admired the famous singer from afar. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/afar/#x3)
- From afar, the mountain looked blue. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/afar/#x4)
- Wise men travelled from afar in the old story. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/afar/#x5)
- The castle could be seen from afar. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/afar/#x6)
- “Drown!” answered Pinocchio from afar, happy at his escape. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/afar/#x7)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/afar/#x1)
- On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. (Torah GEN.22.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/afar/#x2)
- And the people stood afar off; but Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. (Torah EXO.20.21, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/afar/#x3)
- Why standest Thou afar off, O LORD? (Writings PSA.10.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/afar/#x4)
- All men have looked thereon; man beholdeth it afar off. (Writings JOB.36.25, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/afar/#x5)
- She is like the merchant-ships; she bringeth her food from afar. (Writings PRO.31.14, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/afar/#x6)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/A/afar/#m1)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/A/afar/#x1)
- “Drown!” answered Pinocchio from afar, happy at his escape. (The Adventures of Pinocchio) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/A/afar/#x2)
- On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. (Torah GEN.22.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/A/afar/#x3)

### Note

Today: far away.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «afar» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/afar/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«afar» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/afar.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «afar» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/afar/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«afar» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/afar.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «afar» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/A/afar/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«afar» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/emode/w/afar.html) on Mova free.