aloof

«aloof» in Mova's school dictionary: unfriendly and distant, keeping away from other people… — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 2 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

part of speech

adjective (aloof); adverb (aloof: stand aloof, keep aloof)

meaning for a pupil

1) Aloof means unfriendly and distant, keeping away from other people and not joining in. tree →

2) Keeping apart from something on purpose, not getting involved, as in «stay aloof from the argument». tree →

sense in the lessons

In stories it describes a cool, proud or shy character who keeps to themselves; the reader wonders why. Cat books often call cats aloof. Phrases: «remain aloof», «keep aloof from», «seem aloof».

examples

• The new boy seemed aloof, but really he was shy. tree →
• Cats can be aloof and walk off when you call them. tree →
• She stayed aloof from the silly argument. tree →
• The princess was cold and aloof with the servants. tree →
• He looks aloof, but he is kind once you know him. tree →
• Don't judge someone as aloof too quickly. tree →
• Ajax alone, who still brooded over his wrongs, held aloof, refusing to converse with Odysseus, and sullenly retired when the hero addressed him. tree →

note

Usually after a verb (be, seem, remain aloof). Trap: aloof can be shyness, not pride; the word tells how someone looks to others. Opposite: friendly, outgoing, warm.

In the corpora

• My friends and my companions stand aloof from my plague; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
• It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be snarling.

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «aloof» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.