"speak, say," c.1400, in part from M.L.G. utern "to turn out, show, speak," from uter "outer," comparative adj. formed from ut "out;" in part from M.E. verb outen "to disclose," from O.E. utan "to put out," from ut (see
out). Cf. Ger. äussern "to utter, express," from aus
"out;" and colloquial phrase out with it "speak up!" Formerly also used as a commercial verb (as release is now). Utterance "that which is uttered" is attested from c.1454.