I.perf. distiti, only Boëth. in Porphyr. 4, p. 89), v. n., to stand apart, to be separate, distant (freq. and class.).
I. Lit. (cf. absum), absol.: “quantum summa labra (fossae) distabant,” Caes. B. G. 7, 72, 1; cf. id. ib. 4, 17, 6; Cic. Phil. 2, 27, 67; Liv. 33, 1; Ov. M. 2, 241 et saep.—With inter se: “turres pedes LXXX. inter se distant,” Caes. B. G. 7, 72 fin.: “trabes inter se binos pedes,” id. ib. 7, 23, 1; cf. id. B. C. 2, 10, 2: “inter se modicum spatium,” Liv. 8, 8, 5: “multum sidera inter se,” Cic. Tusc. 5, 24, 69: “hastati inter se modicum spatium,” Liv. 8, 8 et saep.—With a or ab: “(imago) distare a speculo,” Lucr. 4, 289; so, “castra ab castris,” Caes. B. C. 1, 82, 3: “terra ab hujus terrae continuatione,” Cic. N. D. 2, 66 al.—With simple abl.: “cum tanto Phrygiā Gallica distet humus,” Ov. F. 4, 362; cf. id. M. 3, 145; “also: foro nimium distare Carinas,” Hor. Ep. 1, 7, 48: “spatium,” Ov. M. 11, 715. —
B. Transf., of remoteness in time: “non multum aetate distantes,” Quint. 12, 10, 4: “non multum inter se distantes tempore, ib. § 11: quantum distet ab Inacho Codrus,” Hor. C. 3, 19, 1: “haud multum distanti tempore,” Tac. A. 3, 24.
II. Trop., of quality, to differ, be different=differre, discrepare (freq.): “ut distare aliquid aut ex aliqua parte differre videatur,” Cic. Caecin. 14; cf.: “quia res differebant, nomina rerum distare voluerunt,” id. Top. 8, 34: “moribus et legibus distant (civitates),” Quint. 5, 10, 40; cf. id. 6, 4, 21: “in totum metaphora brevior est similitudo, eoque distat, quod, etc.,” id. 8, 6, 8: “multum inter se distant istae facultates longeque sunt diversae atque sejunctae,” Cic. de Or. 1, 49, 215: “multum inter se genera dicendi,” id. Or. 16, 52; Quint. 7, 2, 3: “hominum vita tantum distat a victu et cultu bestiarum,” Cic. Off. 2, 4, 15; so with ab, id. ib. 3, 17, 71; id. Rosc. Am. 15, 44; id. de Or. 2, 65, 263; Quint. 5, 10, 114; Hor. S. 2, 2, 53; Ov. Tr. 1, 2, 11 al.; cf.: “quid enim tam distans quam a severitate comitas?” Cic. Or. 10, 34. —With dat.: “infido scurrae distabit amicus,” Hor. Ep. 1, 18, 4; so, “paulum sepultae inertiae celata virtus,” id. C. 4, 9, 29: “quid aera lupinis,” id. Ep. 1, 7, 23: “pulchra et exactis minimum distantia,” id. ib. 2, 1, 72: “enthymema syllogismo,” Quint. 5, 10, 7 al.— Impers.: distat, there is a difference: “distat, sumasne pudenter An rapias,” Hor. Ep. 1, 17, 44; 2, 2, 195; id. S. 2, 3, 210; Quint. 5, 10, 26.