Word of the Day - 11/07/25
aloof
/ə'luf/(adj.): remote in manner
Gatsby throws lavish parties yet remains aloof, watching from the sidelines rather than joining his guests.
(adv.): in an aloof manner
He stood aloof from the crowd, watching silently.
Word Origin
The word 'aloof' originated from the Dutch word 'loef', meaning 'weather gage' or 'windward side of a ship', combined with the English prefix 'a-' (meaning 'on'). It was initially a nautical term meaning 'to windward', instructing a ship to keep its head to the wind and thus stay clear of a lee-shore or other vessels. The figurative sense of being emotionally distant or reserved developed from this idea of keeping a distance.
The word 'luff', also a nautical term referring to the forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail or the act of sailing closer to the wind, shares the same Dutch root 'loef' as 'aloof'.