Aloof

See Also edit

Reference edit

Syllabication edit

  • a*loof

Definitions edit

  • Not friendly or forthcoming; cool and

distant:

  • Conspicuously uninvolved and

uninterested, typically through distaste.

Origin edit

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.