AT ARM'S LENGTH • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of At arm's length

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/æt ɑrmz lɛŋkθ/ Listen

noun

Length n.

1.

The longest, or longer, dimension of any object, in distinction from breadth or width; extent of anything from end to end; the longest line which can be drawn through a body, parallel to its sides; as, the length of a church, or of a ship; the length of a rope or line.

2.

A portion of space or of time considered as measured by its length; often in the plural. "Large lengths of seas and shores." "The future but a length behind the past."

3.

The quality or state of being long, in space or time; extent; duration; as, some sea birds are remarkable for the length of their wings; he was tired by the length of the sermon, and the length of his walk.

4.

A single piece or subdivision of a series, or of a number of long pieces which may be connected together; as, a length of pipe; a length of fence.

5.

Detail or amplification; unfolding; continuance as, to pursue a subject to a great length. "May Heaven, great monarch, still augment your bliss With length of days, and every day like this."

6.

Distance. (Obs.) "He had marched to the length of Exeter."

At length.

(a)

At or in the full extent; without abbreviation; as, let the name be inserted at length.

(b)

At the end or conclusion; after a long period. See Syn. of At last, under Last.

At arm's length. See under Arm.

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Etymology of 'At arm's length'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"At arm's length" Quotes from Famous Books

... result that I soon began to realise, from their behaviour, that, rapid as were all their movements, the monkeys were nevertheless taking considerable pains to preserve silence. I noticed that none of them attempted to drag the thorns after them through the grass; every branch was carried at arm's length overhead; and when it was passed up to those on the top of the rock it was not permitted to scrape or grate against the surface of the rock, but was carefully held away from it, although it was evident that some of the monkeys got more or less severely pricked ...

— Through Veld and Forest - An African Story • Harry Collingwood

... will perhaps say—nay, you have said already—Praise my beauty, if you will; but the praise should not have been of that invidious kind which compares a woman to Goddesses. Well, I will keep truth at arm's length no longer; I did not, dear lady, compare you to Goddesses, but to the handiwork in marble and bronze and ivory of certain good artists. There is no impiety, surely, in illustrating mortal beauty by ...

— Works, V3 • Lucian of Samosata

... He caught Paula in those fine small hands that seemed to have amazing strength and held her, at arm's length. "Doctor Ray," he said. He shook her. "Doctor Ray." She stopped screaming. "I don't wish to administer a sedative because then you will say that I drugged you. But ...

— The Stars, My Brothers • Edmond Hamilton

... continue until at a distance about equal to the start, when they again turn and pass. Occasionally the man will take a few rapid steps toward the woman, with exaggerated high knee action and much stamping of feet, or he will dance backward a few steps. At times the cloth is held at arm's length in front or at the side; again it is wrapped about the waist, the woman always following the actions of the man. At last they meet; the man extends his hand, the woman does likewise, but instead of taking ...

— The Tinguian - Social, Religious, and Economic Life of a Philippine Tribe • Fay-Cooper Cole

... police equipment built into him than Nineport had ever owned. There was an ink pad that snapped out of one hip, and he efficiently rolled Alex's fingertips across it and stamped them on a card. Then he held the prisoner at arm's length while something clicked in his abdomen. Once more sideways and two instant photographs dropped out of a slot. The mug shots were stuck on the card, arrest details and such inserted. There was more like this, but I forced ...

— Arm of the Law • Harry Harrison

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