Etymology From Middle English further, forther, from Old English forþor, furþor (“further”, adverb), from Proto-West Germanic *furþer, 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 (“further”), Saterland Frisian foarder (“further”), West Frisian fierder (“further”), Dutch verder (“further”), German fürder (“further”).
1
To help forward; to assist.
In happie houre we haue ſet the Crowne Upon your Kingly head, that ſeeks our honor, In ioyning with the man, ordain’d by heauen To further euerie action to the beſt.c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene i:
Upon this he brought me a cotton bag and giving it to me, said, "Take this bag and fill it with pebbles from the beach and go forth with a company of the townsfolk to whom I will give a charge respecting thee. Do as they do and belike thou shalt gain what may further thy return voyage to thy native land."1885, Richard F. Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 558:
2
To encourage growth; to support progress or growth of something; to promote.
Etymology From Middle English further, forther, from Old English forþor, furþor (“further”, adverb), from Proto-West Germanic *furþer, 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 (“further”), Saterland Frisian foarder (“further”), West Frisian fierder (“further”), Dutch verder (“further”), German fürder (“further”).
1
More distant; relatively distant.
Comparative form of far
See those two lampposts? Run to the further one.
He was standing at the further end of the corridor.
2
More, additional.
I have one further comment to make.
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.2011 November 3, Chris Bevan, “Rubin Kazan 1 - 0 Tottenham”, in BBC Sport:
Etymology From Middle English further, forther, from Old English forþor, furþor (“further”, adverb), from Proto-West Germanic *furþer, 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 (“further”), Saterland Frisian foarder (“further”), West Frisian fierder (“further”), Dutch verder (“further”), German fürder (“further”).
1
To, at or over a greater distance in space, time or other extent.
Comparative form of far
I can run further than you.
I live a little further out of town.
2 more examples
How was your company doing ten years further back?
“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.[…]”1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter VII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
2
To a greater extent or degree.
Comparative form of far
Of the two civilisations, this one was further advanced.
I do not propose to discuss it any further. - Please, let me explain just a little further.
3
Beyond what is already stated or is already the case.
Chapter 10 further explains the ideas introduced in Chapter 9.
Don't confuse things further.
2 more examples
Further, affiant sayeth naught. (A formal statement ending a deposition or affidavit, immediately preceding the affiant's signature.)
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.2013 July 26, Leo Hickman, “How algorithms rule the world”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 7, page 26:
4
Conjunctive Also; in addition; furthermore; moreover.
It is overlong, and further, it makes no sense.
I claim furthermore that he did not own the company but only worked there.
1 more example
Further, besides sensible things and Forms he says there are the objects of mathematics, which occupy an intermediate position,[…].1924, Aristotle, translated by W. D. Ross, Metaphysics, Book 1, Part 6:
5
With to Following on (from).
Further to our recent telephone call, I am writing to clarify certain points raised.
This example is further to the one on page 17.
1 more example
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.2006 February 14, European Court of Human Rights, Turek v. Slovakia, number 57986/00, marginal 110: