Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

ut·ter 1       (ŭt'ər)  Pronunciation Key  tr.v.   ut·tered, ut·ter·ing, ut·ters To send forth with the voice: uttered a cry. To articulate (words); pronounce or speak. See Synonyms at vent1. Law To put (counterfeit money, for example) into circulation. To publish (a book, for example). Obsolete To sell or deliver (merchandise) in trading. [Middle English utteren, partly from Middle Low German uteren (from uter, outer, comparative of ūt, out; see ud- in Indo-European roots) and alteration (influenced by utter, outer) of Middle English outen, to disclose (from out, out; see out).] ut'ter·a·ble adj., ut'ter·er n.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

ut·ter 2       (ŭt'ər)  Pronunciation Key  adj.   Complete; absolute; entire: utter nonsense; utter darkness. [Middle English, from Old English ūtera, outer; see ud- in Indo-European roots.]

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
utter  (adj.)

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
utter  (v.)

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

utter
adjective
1.	without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers; "an arrant fool"; "a complete coward"; "a consummate fool"; "a double-dyed villain"; "gross negligence"; "a perfect idiot"; "pure folly"; "what a sodding mess"; "stark staring mad"; "a thoroughgoing villain"; "utter nonsense"; "the unadulterated truth"
2.	complete; "came to a dead stop"; "utter seriousness" [syn: dead]
verb
1.	articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise; "She expressed her anger"; "He uttered a curse" [syn: express]
2.	express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words); "She let out a big heavy sigh"; "He uttered strange sounds that nobody could understand"
3.	express in speech; "She talks a lot of nonsense"; "This depressed patient does not verbalize" [syn: talk]
4.	put into circulation; "utter counterfeit currency"

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: ut·ter
Function: transitive verb
: to put (as a counterfeit note) into circulation as if genuine <convicted of uttering a forgedcheck> —ut·ter·er noun

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Utter

De*liv"er\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delivered; p. pr. & vb. n. Delivering.] [F. d['e]livrer, LL. deliberare to liberate, give over, fr. L. de + liberare to set free. See Liberate.]

1. To set free from restraint; to set at liberty; to release; to liberate, as from control; to give up; to free; to save; to rescue from evil actual or feared; -- often with from or out of; as, to deliver one from captivity, or from fear of death.

He that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. --Ezek. xxxiii. 5.

Promise was that I Should Israel from Philistian yoke deliver. --Milton.

2. To give or transfer; to yield possession or control of; to part with (to); to make over; to commit; to surrender; to resign; -- often with up or over, to or into.

Thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand. --Gen. xl. 13.

The constables have delivered her over. --Shak.

The exalted mind All sense of woe delivers to the wind. --Pope.

3. To make over to the knowledge of another; to communicate; to utter; to speak; to impart.

Till he these words to him deliver might. --Spenser.

Whereof the former delivers the precepts of the art, and the latter the perfection. --Bacon.

4. To give forth in action or exercise; to discharge; as, to deliver a blow; to deliver a broadside, or a ball.

Shaking his head and delivering some show of tears. --Sidney.

An uninstructed bowler . . . thinks to attain the jack by delivering his bowl straightforward upon it. --Sir W. Scott.

5. To free from, or disburden of, young; to relieve of a child in childbirth; to bring forth; -- often with of.

She was delivered safe and soon. --Gower.

Tully was long ere he could be delivered of a few verses, and those poor ones. --Peacham.

6. To discover; to show. [Poetic]

I 'll deliver Myself your loyal servant. --Shak.

7. To deliberate. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

8. To admit; to allow to pass. [Obs.] --Bacon.

Syn: To Deliver, Give Forth, Discharge, Liberate, Pronounce, Utter.

Usage: Deliver denotes, literally, to set free. Hence the term is extensively applied to cases where a thing is made to pass from a confined state to one of greater freedom or openness. Hence it may, in certain connections, be used as synonymous with any or all of the above-mentioned words, as will be seen from the following examples: One who delivers a package gives it forth; one who delivers a cargo discharges it; one who delivers a captive liberates him; one who delivers a message or a discourse utters or pronounces it; when soldiers deliver their fire, they set it free or give it forth.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Utter

Out\, adv. [OE. out, ut, oute, ute, AS. [=u]t, and [=u]te, [=u]tan, fr. [=u]t; akin to D. uit, OS. [=u]t, G. aus, OHG. [=u]z, Icel. [=u]t, Sw. ut, Dan. ud, Goth. ut, Skr. ud. [root]198. Cf. About, But, prep., Carouse, Utter, a.] In its original and strict sense, out means from the interior of something; beyond the limits or boundary of somethings; in a position or relation which is exterior to something; -- opposed to in or into. The something may be expressed after of, from, etc. (see Out of, below); or, if not expressed, it is implied; as, he is out; or, he is out of the house, office, business, etc.; he came out; or, he came out from the ship, meeting, sect, party, etc. Out is used in a variety of applications, as:

1. Away; abroad; off; from home, or from a certain, or a usual, place; not in; not in a particular, or a usual, place; as, the proprietor is out, his team was taken out. "My shoulder blade is out." --Shak.

He hath been out (of the country) nine years. --Shak.

2. Beyond the limits of concealment, confinement, privacy, constraint, etc., actual of figurative; hence, not in concealment, constraint, etc., in, or into, a state of freedom, openness, disclosure, publicity, etc.; as, the sun shines out; he laughed out, to be out at the elbows; the secret has leaked out, or is out; the disease broke out on his face; the book is out.

Leaves are out and perfect in a month. --Bacon.

She has not been out [in general society] very long. --H. James.

3. Beyond the limit of existence, continuance, or supply; to the end; completely; hence, in, or into, a condition of extinction, exhaustion, completion; as, the fuel, or the fire, has burned out. "Hear me out." --Dryden.

Deceitiful men shall not live out half their days. --Ps. iv. 23.

When the butt is out, we will drink water. --Shak.

4. Beyond possession, control, or occupation; hence, in, or into, a state of want, loss, or deprivation; -- used of office, business, property, knowledge, etc.; as, the Democrats went out and the Whigs came in; he put his money out at interest. "Land that is out at rack rent." --Locke. "He was out fifty pounds." --Bp. Fell.

I have forgot my part, and I am out. --Shak.

5. Beyond the bounds of what is true, reasonable, correct, proper, common, etc.; in error or mistake; in a wrong or incorrect position or opinion; in a state of disagreement, opposition, etc.; in an inharmonious relation. "Lancelot and I are out." --Shak.

Wicked men are strangely out in the calculating of their own interest. --South.

Very seldom out, in these his guesses. --Addison.

6. Not in the position to score in playing a game; not in the state or turn of the play for counting or gaining scores.

Note: Out is largely used in composition as a prefix, with the same significations that it has as a separate word; as outbound, outbreak, outbuilding, outcome, outdo, outdoor, outfield. See also the first Note under Over, adv.

Day in, day out, from the beginning to the limit of each of several days; day by day; every day.

Out and out. (a) adv. Completely; wholly; openly. (b) adj. Without any reservation or disguise; absolute; as, an out and out villain. [As an adj. written also out-and-out.]

Out at, Out in, Out on, etc., elliptical phrases, that to which out refers as a source, origin, etc., being omitted; as, out (of the house and) at the barn; out (of the house, road, fields, etc., and) in the woods.

Three fishers went sailing out into the west, Out into the west, as the sun went down. --C. Kingsley.

Note: In these lines after out may be understood, "of the harbor," "from the shore," "of sight," or some similar phrase. The complete construction is seen in the saying: "Out of the frying pan into the fire."

Out from, a construction similar to out of (below). See Of and From.

Out of, a phrase which may be considered either as composed of an adverb and a preposition, each having its appropriate office in the sentence, or as a compound preposition. Considered as a preposition, it denotes, with verbs of movement or action, from the interior of; beyond the limit: from; hence, origin, source, motive, departure, separation, loss, etc.; -- opposed to in or into; also with verbs of being, the state of being derived, removed, or separated from. Examples may be found in the phrases below, and also under Vocabulary words; as, out of breath; out of countenance.

Out of cess, beyond measure, excessively. --Shak.

Out of character, unbecoming; improper.

Out of conceit with, not pleased with. See under Conceit.

Out of date, not timely; unfashionable; antiquated.

Out of door, Out of doors, beyond the doors; from the house; in, or into, the open air; hence, figuratively, shut out; dismissed. See under Door, also, Out-of-door, Outdoor, Outdoors, in the Vocabulary. "He 's quality, and the question's out of door," --Dryden.

Out of favor, disliked; under displeasure.

Out of frame, not in correct order or condition; irregular; disarranged. --Latimer.

Out of hand, immediately; without delay or preparation. "Ananias . . . fell down and died out of hand." --Latimer.

Out of harm's way, beyond the danger limit; in a safe place.

Out of joint, not in proper connection or adjustment; unhinged; disordered. "The time is out of joint." --Shak.

Out of mind, not in mind; forgotten; also, beyond the limit of memory; as, time out of mind.

Out of one's head, beyond commanding one's mental powers; in a wandering state mentally; delirious. [Colloq.]

Out of one's time, beyond one's period of minority or apprenticeship.

Out of order, not in proper order; disarranged; in confusion.

Out of place, not in the usual or proper place; hence, not proper or becoming.

Out of pocket, in a condition of having expended or lost more money than one has received.

Out of print, not in market, the edition printed being exhausted; -- said of books, pamphlets, etc.

Out of the question, beyond the limits or range of consideration; impossible to be favorably considered.

Out of reach, beyond one's reach; inaccessible.

Out of season, not in a proper season or time; untimely; inopportune.

Out of sorts, wanting certain things; unsatisfied; unwell; unhappy; cross. See under Sort, n.

Out of temper, not in good temper; irritated; angry.

Out of time, not in proper time; too soon, or too late.

Out of time, not in harmony; discordant; hence, not in an agreeing temper; fretful.

Out of twist, winding, or wind, not in warped condition; perfectly plain and smooth; -- said of surfaces.

Out of use, not in use; unfashionable; obsolete.

Out of the way. (a) On one side; hard to reach or find; secluded. (b) Improper; unusual; wrong.

Out of the woods, not in a place, or state, of obscurity or doubt; free from difficulty or perils; safe. [Colloq.]

Out to out, from one extreme limit to another, including the whole length, breadth, or thickness; -- applied to measurements.

Out West, in or towards, the West; specifically, in some Western State or Territory. [U. S.]

To come out, To cut out, To fall out, etc. See under Come, Cut, Fall, etc.

To put out of the way, to kill; to destroy.

Week in, week out. See Day in, day out (above).

On-line Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

utter

utter: in CancerWEB's On-line Medical Dictionary