In a way that is far away in space or time, or in an emotionally remote way, showing lack of closeness or warmth.
From 'distant' (Latin 'distans', meaning 'standing apart') + '-ly' (adverb suffix). The word evolved to describe both physical and emotional separation.
You can be 'distantly related' to someone—meaning many generations back—or speak to someone 'distantly'—meaning coldly—showing how English uses the same space metaphor for emotions, like feelings are geography!
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