further

Etymology

From Middle English further, forther, from Old English furþor (“further”, adj), from Proto-Germanic *furþeraz, from Proto-Indo-European *per- (a common preposition), equivalent to fore + -ther (a vestigial comparative ending still present in such words as other, either, whether, and, in altered form, in after); or as sometimes stated, as forth +‎ -er. Cognate with Scots forder, furder, Saterland Frisian foarder, West Frisian fierder, Dutch vorder, German fürder.

Pronunciation

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• enPR: fûr′thər IPA^(key): /fɜː(ɹ)ðə(ɹ)/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)ðə(r)

Verb

further (third-person singular simple present furthers, present participle furthering, simple past and past participle furthered)

1. (transitive) To encourage growth.

   Further the economy.

2. To support progress or growth of something.

Adjective

further

1. comparative form of far: more far; of or pertaining to being distant, or of greater distance in degree or of extension in time.
2. More, additional.
   • 2011 November 3, Chris Bevan, “Rubin Kazan 1 - 0 Tottenham”, in BBC Sport‎:

     This time Cudicini was left helpless when Natcho stepped up to expertly curl the ball into the top corner.
     That was the cue for further pressure from the Russian side and it took further Cudicini saves to keep the score down.

Adverb

further (not comparable)

1. comparative form of far: more far
2. (conjunctive) Also; in addition to.
   • 1924, Aristotle, W. D. Ross (translator), Metaphysics, Book 1, Part 6,

     Further, besides sensible things and Forms he says there are the objects of mathematics, which occupy an intermediate position, […] .

3. (location) At greater distance in space or time; farther.

   Washington DC is further from Europe than New York.

   • 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 7, in The Mirror and the Lamp:

     “A very welcome, kind, useful present, that means to the parish. By the way, Hopkins, let this go no further. We don't want the tale running round that a rich person has arrived. Churchill, my dear fellow, we have such greedy sharks, and wolves in lamb's clothing. […]”

4. (conjunctive) Moreover; beyond what is already stated.

   Further, affiant sayeth naught. (A formal statement ending a deposition or affidavit, immediately preceding the affiant's signature.)

   • 2013 July 26, Leo Hickman, “How algorithms rule the world”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 7, page 26:

     The use of algorithms in policing is one example of their increasing influence on our lives. […] who, if anyone, is policing their use[?] Such concerns were sharpened further by the continuing revelations about how the US National Security Agency (NSA) has been using algorithms to help it interpret the colossal amounts of data it has collected from its covert dragnet of international telecommunications.

5. (conjunctive, formal) In continuation of what has already been enacted
   • 2006 February 14, European Court of Human Rights, Turek v. Slovakia‎, number 57986/00, marginal 110:

     The Court notes that the applicant’s registration by the StB as their “agent” lies at the heart of the application. Although the Court has no jurisdiction ratione temporis to examine the registration as such, it observes that, further to his registration, the applicant was issued with a negative security clearance and his name and reputation were called into question.

   Synonym: in furtherance

Usage notes

Some usage guides distinguish farther and further, with farther referring to distance, and further referring to degree or time.^[1] Others, such as the OED, recommend farther as a comparative form of far and further for use when it is not comparative.^[2]

However, most authorities consider the two interchangeable in most or all circumstances,^[3] and historically they have not been distinguished.^[4][5]

Derived terms

• furthermore

See also

• far

References