The verb "outdistance" means to surpass or leave behind in a race or competition. The past tense of "outdistance" is "outdistanced", which is spelled /aʊtˈdɪstənst/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable is pronounced like "ow" as in "cow", the second syllable is spelled and pronounced like "distanced", and the stress is on the second syllable. To use this word in a sentence, you could say, "Despite their best efforts, the other runners were outdistanced by the champion athlete."
"Were outdistanced" refers to a situation where one or more individuals or entities, typically in a competitive setting, were unable to maintain an equivalent speed or progress relative to others, resulting in falling behind or being left behind in the race or competition. The phrase "were outdistanced" implies that those individuals or entities were surpassed or exceeded by others in terms of speed, distance, or performance.
To illustrate further, imagine a race where multiple participants are running. If one or more runners were outdistanced, it means they were surpassed by their competitors, often finding themselves trailing significantly behind. This can occur due to various factors such as lack of fitness, slower pace, inadequate training, or being overshadowed by stronger opponents.
The term "were outdistanced" can also be applied metaphorically to situations beyond physical races. For instance, in academic or professional settings, it suggests that certain individuals or organizations were overtaken or surpassed by others in terms of achievements, productivity, or success.
Overall, "were outdistanced" captures the notion of being left behind or falling short in comparison to others who were able to maintain a greater pace, progress, or performance.
The word "were outdistanced" is a phrase that consists of two words: "were" and "outdistanced". Let's break down the etymology of both of these words:
1. "Were":
The word "were" is the past tense of the verb "be" in the second person plural form. It comes from Old English "wǣron", which is derived from the West Germanic root word "wer-". This root has Indo-European origins and can be traced back to the reconstructed Proto-Indo-European base word "*esmi", meaning "I am".
2. "Outdistanced":
The word "outdistanced" is composed of two parts: "out-" and "distanced".
- "Out-" is a prefix that means surpassing or exceeding.