altogether
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ɔːl.tʊˈɡɛð.ə(ɹ)/, /ɔː.tuːˈɡɛð.ə(ɹ)/ (UK); /ɔl.tuˈɡɛð.ɚ/, /ˈɔl.təˌɡɛð.ɚ/ (US)[1]
Etymology
It is Middle English altogeder, from the phrase al togedere, all together,[2][3][4] a strengthened form of all with together.[5][2]
Earliest recorded meaning
The whole together, everything (adjective): 1154 in the OED;[6] the phrase about 1150 and the adverb, completely, before 1200 in Barnhart.[2]
Semantic evolution
All united in a company is from 1330 and is now written all together.[6] Entirely, in every respect, is from about 1200 (the early 13th century).[6][5] For altogether, permanently, is from 1548,[6] and in total amount from 1797.[6] The OED notes a common tendency to write altogether where all together is logically better, with examples from 1765.[5] The altogether, nakedness, is from 1894 (1893 in MWU), probably from completely naked.[5][4]
Timeline
- c. 1150 – al togedere.[2]
- before 1200 – completely.[2]
- 1548 – for altogether.[6]
- 1797 – in total.[6]
- 1894 – the altogether, nakedness.[5]
Modern meaning
Adverb
- Completely; entirely.
- With everything included; in total.
- On the whole: altogether it was a good party.
Noun
- (the altogether, informal) A state of nakedness.
Related words
- all
- together
- all together
Usage notes
Altogether, completely, should be distinguished from all together, all in one place or at once.[5]
References
- ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
- ^ Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
- ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
- ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press