altogether English · revision 8031

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 1150}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɔːl.tʊˈɡɛð.ə(ɹ)/, /ɔː.tuːˈɡɛð.ə(ɹ)/ ''(UK)''; /ɔl.tuˈɡɛð.ɚ/, /ˈɔl.təˌɡɛð.ɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English altogeder, from the phrase al togedere, all together,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) a strengthened form of [[all]] with [[together]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The whole together, everything (adjective): 1154 in the OED;^(OED 1989) the phrase about 1150 and the adverb, completely, before 1200 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ All united in a company is from 1330 and is now written all together.^(OED 1989) Entirely, in every respect, is from about 1200 (the early 13th century).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) ''For altogether'', permanently, is from 1548,^(OED 1989) and in total amount from 1797.^(OED 1989) The OED notes a common tendency to write altogether where all together is logically better, with examples from 1765.^(Etymonline) ''The altogether'', nakedness, is from 1894 (1893 in MWU), probably from completely naked.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1150 – al togedere.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1200 – completely.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1548 – for altogether.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1797 – in total.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1894 – the altogether, nakedness.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[completely|alt=Completely]]; entirely.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # With everything included; in total.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # On the whole: ''altogether it was a good party''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(the altogether, informal)'' A state of nakedness.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[all]]

+ * [[together]]

+ * [[all together]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Altogether, completely, should be distinguished from all together, all in one place or at once.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}