utter
UK /ˈʌtə/ · US /ˈʌtəɹ/ adjective, noun, verb, adverb, proper noun
Forms utmost uttermost the utter utters uttering uttered utterest utteredst uttereth uttermore
- adjective To the furthest or most extreme extent; absolute, complete, total, unconditional. “utter bliss utter darkness utter ruin”
- adjective (rare) Of a substance: pure, unmixed.
- adjective (originally Scotland) Of decisions, replies, etc.: made in an unconditional or unqualified manner; decisive, definite.
- adjective (except literary, poetic) Further out than another thing; being the exterior or outer part of something; outer, outward; also, extremely remote. “at the utter extremities of”
- adjective (rare) Preceding all others; original.
- adjective (rare) Succeeding all others; final, last, ultimate.
- noun (rare) The thing which is most utter (adjective sense) or extreme.
- verb Sometimes preceded by forth, out, etc.: to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice. “Don’t you utter another word!”
- verb To verbally express or report (a desire or emotion, an idea or thought, etc.).
- verb (reflexive) To express (oneself) in speech or writing.
- verb (figurative) Of a thing: to produce (a noise or sound); to emit. “Sally’s car uttered a hideous shriek when she applied the brakes.”
- verb (obsolete) To disclose or reveal (something secret or unknown); to bring to light.
- verb (obsolete, also reflexive) To disclose or reveal the identity or nature of (oneself or someone, or something).
- verb (obsolete, also reflexive) To display or show (itself or something).
- verb To speak.
- adverb Further apart, away, or out; outside, without.
- adverb To an extreme extent; altogether, quite.
- proper noun A surname.
Synonyms
utmost uttermost crass abject frightful absolute prize clean arrant categoric categorical complete consummate decided downright full full-blown full-bore full-on mere express verbalize verbalise give tongue to emit let out let loose talk speak mouth
Antonyms
Etymology
The adjective is derived from Middle English outre, utter, uttre (“situated on the outside of, exterior”), from Old English ūtera (“exterior, outer”, literally “more out”), the comparative form of ūt (“out”). Piecewise doublet of outer.
The noun is derived from the adjective.
From Middle English outren, utteren (“to display for sale; to market; to sell; to say, speak; to put into words, express, tell; to make known, reveal”), partly:
* from outre, utter (adjective, adverb) (see etymology 1 and etymology 3) + -en (suffix forming the infinitives of verbs); and
* from Middle Dutch uteren (“to announce, make known”) (modern Dutch uiteren); or from Middle Low German üteren, ütern (“to demonstrate, show; to speak; to sell; etc.”) (modern Low German ütern), from Old Dutch or Old Saxon ūtan, probably from Proto-West Germanic *ūtanā (“from outside or without; outside of”). Compare Middle High German ūzeren, whence German äußern (“to express, say, utter”))
From Middle English outre, utter (“away, out; further away or out; out in the open; outside, without; to a greater extent”), partly:
* from outre, utter (adjective) (see etymology 1); and
* from Old English ūtor, the comparative form of ūt (“out; outdoors, outside”, adverb).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Outer. "Thine utter eyen." Chaucer. [Obs.] "By him a shirt and utter mantle laid." Chapman.
- adjective Situated on the outside, or extreme limit; remote from the center; outer. [Obs.]
- verb To put forth or out; to reach out. [Obs.]
- verb To dispose of in trade; to sell or vend. [Obs.]
Etymology [OE. utter, originally the same word as outer. See Out, and cf. Outer, Utmost.]
Etymology [OE. outren, freq. of outen to utter, put out, AS. utian to put out, eject, fr. ut out. sq. root198. See Out, and cf. Utter, a.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “utter”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details