yonder
YON-der
/ˈjɒndər/
At some distance in the direction indicated; over there.
Refers to something that is visible but not close.
The story behind the word. From the Proto-Germanic *jaino-, meaning 'that one.' It is related to the German word 'jener'.
Word relationships
- distant: 'Distant' is an adjective; 'yonder' is an adverb or determiner.
- here: Close versus distant.
Commonly confused with
- yon: 'Yon' is the shorter adjective form (yon hill); 'yonder' is the adverbial form (over yonder).
Word family
- yon (adjective): That (distant) one.
Collocations
- yonder hill
- over yonder
Idioms & expressions
- the wild blue yonder
Example sentences
- "But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun." Romeo seeing Juliet at her window.
Memory hook
Yonder = Beyond there. Yonder = Way over there.
When not to use
Common in Southern American or rural British dialects, but archaic in standard urban English.
Fun facts
- The phrase 'wild blue yonder' refers to the vast, open sky.
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