Definition of the word distantly

The word "distantly" has its roots in the 15th century. It comes from the Old French word "destain", which means "to stretch out" or "to reach far". The word "distantly" is an adverb that is formed by adding the suffix "-ly" to the adjective "distant", meaning far away or separate. In Middle English (circa 1300-1500), the word "distan" meant "to separate" or "to set apart", and it was often used in phrases such as "distan and halten" meaning "to keep at a distance" or "to preserve distance". Over time, the meaning of the word shifted to "from a distance" or "at a distance", and by the 16th century, the adverb "distantly" emerged, signifying a sense of removal or separation. Today, "distantly" is used to describe something happening or being done from a distance, often figuratively, such as "they talked distantly on the phone" or "the stars shone distantly in the sky".