Aloof

See Also

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Reference

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Syllabication

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  • a*loof

Definitions

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  • Not friendly or forthcoming; cool and

distant:

  • Conspicuously uninvolved and

uninterested, typically through distaste.

Origin

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mid 16th century: from a- 2 (expressing direction) + luff. The term was originally an adverb in nautical use, meaning 'away and to windward!', i.e., with the ship's head kept close to the wind away from a lee shore, etc., toward which it might otherwise drift. From this arose the sense 'at a distance' literally or figuratively.