They said, . . . We be come from a far country. Josh. ix. 6.

The nations far and near contend in choice. Dryden.

They that are far from thee ahsll perish. Ps. lxxiii. 27.

He was far from ill looking, though he thought himself still farther. F. Anstey.

* The distinction between the adjectival and adverbial use of far is sometimes not easily discriminated.

By far, by much; by a great difference. -- Far between, with a long distance (of space or time) between; at long intervals. "The examinations are few and far between." Farrar.

Who can find a virtuous woman ? for her price is far above rubies. Prov. xxxi. 10.

As far as, to the extent, or degree, that. See As far as, under As. -- Far off. (a) At a great distance, absolutely or relatively. (b) Distant in sympathy or affection; alienated. "But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who some time were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." Eph. ii. 13. -- Far other, different by a great degree; not the same; quite unlike. Pope. -- Far and near, at a distance and close by; throughout a whole region. -- Far and wide, distantly and broadly; comprehensively. "Far and wide his eye commands." Milton. -- From far, from a great distance; from a remote place.

* Far often occurs in self-explaining compounds, such as far-extended, far-reaching, far-spread.