farther

farther, further are often used without distinction though originally different words, farther being the comparative of far and further, in its adverbial form (as an adjective, it is without a positive), being the comparative of fore or forth. At any rate farther basically implies a greater distance from a given point in space or sometimes in time; further implies onwardness or an advance or an addition (as in movement or progression) not only in space but in time, quantity, or degree

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the farther tree is blocking my view

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Germany is farther from the United States than England

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move farther away from the city

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no further steps are necessary

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the incident happened farther back than I can remember

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circumstances such as the present . . . render further reserve unnecessary— Shaw

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In spite of this fundamental distinction in meaning, there are many occasions where it is difficult to make a choice, since the ideas of distance from a given point and of advance in movement may both be implied. In such cases either word may be used

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to go further and fare worse— Old Proverb

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my ponies are tired, and I have further to go— Hardy

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as we climb higher, we can see further— Inge

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"What! . . . was Pat ever in France?" "Indeed he was," cries mine host; and Pat adds, "Ay, and farther— Lover

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