8. Length or interval of time; period, past or future, between two eras or events.
Ten years' distance between one and the other.
Prior.
The writings of Euclid at the distance of two thousand years.
Playfair.
9. The remoteness or reserve which respect requires; hence, respect; ceremoniousness.
I hope your modesty
Will know what distance to the crown is due.
Dryden.
'T is by respect and distance that authority is upheld.
Atterbury.
10. A withholding of intimacy; alienation; coldness; disagreement; variance; restraint; reserve.
Setting them [factions] at distance, or at least distrust amongst themselves.
Bacon.
On the part of Heaven,
Now alienated, distance and distaste.
Milton.
11. Remoteness in succession or relation; as, the distance between a descendant and his ancestor.
12. (Mus.) The interval between two notes; as, the distance of a fourth or seventh.
Angular distance, the distance made at the eye by lines drawn from the eye to two objects. -- Lunar distance. See under Lunar. -- North polar distance (Astron.), the distance on the heavens of a heavenly body from the north pole. It is the complement of the declination. -- Zenith distance (Astron.), the arc on the heavens from a heavenly body to the zenith of the observer. It is the complement of the altitude. -- To keep one's distance, to stand aloof; to refrain from familiarity.
If a man makes me keep my distance, the comfort is he keeps his at the same time.
Swift.
Dis"tance (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distanced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Distancing (?).] 1. To place at a distance or remotely.