English

Noun

distancer ‎(plural distancers)

1. (psychology) A person who tends to maintain emotional distance and detachment
   • 1990, Susan H. McDaniel et al., Family-Oriented Primary Care, ISBN 0387970568, page 171:

     Pursuers are more likely than distancers to seek help from a professional, such as a physician.

2. A means for establishing distance
   • 2008, December 14, “Ben Ratliff”, in Critic's Choice: New CDs:

     The band’s third album, “When the World Comes Down,” isn’t striking obscure poses, inventing slang or playing with the audience through distancers like tension and distortion.

3. (dated) A long-distance runner
   • 1921, August 22, Paulist Distancer Triumphs in Two-Mile Race, page 16:

     Phillips was one of a field of a dozen distancers who started in the twomile handicap run which featured the games of the Friend's of Irish Freedom at Ulmer Park, Brooklyn.

Coordinate terms

• (emotionally distant person): pursuer

Danish

Noun

distancer c

1. plural indefinite of distance

Verb

distancer or distancér

1. imperative of distancere

French

Etymology

Borrowing from English distance +‎ -er.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dis.tɑ̃.se/

Verb

distancer

1. (transitive) to distance, outdistance

Conjugation

This verb is part of a group of -er verbs for which ‘c’ is softened to a ‘ç’ before the vowels ‘a’ and ‘o’.