utter English · revision 15480

+ Utter, complete, is the old comparative of out; utter, to speak, is a verb formed partly from the same root in Dutch or Low German.^(Cresswell 2021)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈʌtə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈʌtəɹ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ {{homograph|1|complete}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 901}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Utter, complete, is [[inh|enm|uttre]], [[inh|ang|ūtera|t=outer, exterior]] (also [[m|ang|ūttra]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021) the comparative of [[m|ang|ūt|t=out]] (see [[out]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from [[gem-pro|*ūtizô]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) corresponding to [[ofs|ūtera]], [[dum|utere]] and [[goh|ūzaro]] (modern [[m|de|äußer|t=outer]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Outer, farther out: before 901 in Barnhart and the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense outer was very common from about 1400 to 1620, as in Milton's ''the utter Deep''.^(Cresswell 2021) Going to the utmost point, extreme, total, is from the 15th century (about 1430),^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) and became very common from about 1515, as in Shakespeare's ''the utter loss of all the realm''.^(Cresswell 2021)^(Barnhart 1988) Its use as a mere intensifier is attested by 1898.^(Etymonline) Utterly is from the 13th century and uttermost probably from before 1382.^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 901 – ūtera, outer.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1430 – extreme, complete.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1515 – common in this sense.^(Cresswell 2021)

+ * 1898 – a mere intensifier.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Complete; [[absolute]]: ''utter nonsense''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[utterly]]

+ * [[uttermost]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|speak}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=probably before 1400}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb is [[inh|enm|utteren]], partly [[bor|gml|ūteren|t=to turn out, show, speak]] (also [[m|dum|ūteren]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) from [[m|gml|ūter|t=outer]], and partly an alteration under the influence of utter, outer, of Middle English [[m|enm|outen|t=to disclose]], from Old English [[m|ang|ūtian|t=to put out]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To speak or say: probably before 1400, in the ''Morte Arthure'', in Barnhart, about 1400 in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The basic notion is to put forth.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) From the early 15th century it was also a commercial verb, to put goods on the market or money into circulation,^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)^(Hoad 1986) the source of the legal sense, to pass counterfeit money.^(Collins 2023)^(AHD) To publish a book or statement is a related sense.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) Utterance is from the 15th century.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * probably before 1400 – to utter, speak.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 15th century – to put on the market.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1412 – to utter words.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make a sound with the voice, or to say something: ''utter a growl''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(law)'' To put [[counterfeit]] money into circulation.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To make known; to [[publish]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[utterance]]

+ * [[unutterable]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[out]]

+ * [[outer]]

+ * [[utmost]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Lincolnshire dialect to utter meant to discharge, as of a spout or drain.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}