Definitions and meaning of utter
utter
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈʌtə/, [ˈɐtə]
- (US) IPA(key): /ˈʌtɚ/, [ˈʌɾɚ]
-
- Rhymes: -ʌtə(ɹ)
Etymology 1
From Middle English utter, from out (adjective) and Old English ūtera, comparative of ūt (“out”). Compare outer.
Adjective
utter (not comparable)
- (now poetic, literary) Outer; furthest out, most remote. [from 10th c.]
- (obsolete) Outward. [13th–16th c.]
- Absolute, unconditional, total, complete. [from 15th c.]
- utter ruin; utter darkness
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations
Etymology 2
From Middle English utter, partly from utter (adjective, adverb), partly from Middle Dutch uteren.
Verb
utter (third-person singular simple present utters, present participle uttering, simple past and past participle uttered)
- (transitive) To produce (speech or other sounds) with one's voice.
- Synonyms: let out, say, speak; see also Thesaurus:utter, Thesaurus:speak
- (transitive) To reveal or express (an idea, thought, desire, etc.) with speech.
- Synonyms: declare, say, tell
- (transitive, figurative) To produce (a noise) (of an inanimate object).
- Synonyms: emit, let out
- Sally's car uttered a hideous shriek when she applied the brakes.
- (transitive, obsolete) To spit or blow (something) out of one's mouth.
- (transitive, obsolete) To emit or give off (breath).
- (transitive, archaic) To shed (a tear or tears).
- (transitive, obsolete) To offer (something) for sale; to sell.
- (transitive, law) To put (currency) into circulation.
- Synonym: circulate
- 1564, Proclamation of Elizabeth I of England dated November, 1564, London: Richard Jugge and John Cawood, 1565,[7]
- […] there are […] forrayne peeces of golde, of the like quantitie and fashion (although of lesse value) lyke to an Englyshe Angell, brought hyther, and here vttered and payde for ten shyllynges of syluer, beyng for they lacke of wayght, and for the basenesse of the allay, not worth. vii. shillinges, to the great deceite and losse of the subiectes of this her Realme:
- 1735, Jonathan Swift, Drapier’s Letters, Letter 3, in The Works of Jonathan Swift, Dublin: George Faulkner, Volume 4, p. 123,[8]
- There is nothing remaining to preserve us from Ruin, but that the whole Kingdom should continue in a firm determinate Resolution never to receive or utter this FATAL Coin:
- 1842, cited in Supplement to The Jurist, containing a Digest of All the Reported Cases […] published during the year 1842, p. 49,[9]
- If two persons jointly prepare counterfeit coin, and then utter it in different shops, apart from each other, but in concert, and intending to share the proceeds, the utterings of each are the joint utterings of both, and they may be convicted jointly.
- 1914, Section 87G(2), Crimes Act 1914 (Cth)
- A person shall not utter a postage stamp knowing it to be forged.
- 1948, 18 U.S. Code § 486, Uttering coins of gold, silver or other metal
- Whoever, except as authorized by law, makes or utters or passes, or attempts to utter or pass, any coins of gold or silver or other metal, or alloys of metals, intended for use as current money, whether in the resemblance of coins of the United States or of foreign countries, or of original design, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
- (transitive, obsolete) To show (something that has been hidden); to reveal the identity of (someone).
- (transitive, obsolete) To send or put (something) out.
- 1548, Edward Hall, The Union of the Two Noble and Illustre Famelies of Lancastre [and] Yorke, London: Richard Grafton, Henry VI, year 37,[10]
- As fier beyng enclosed in a strayte place, wil by force vtter his flamme […]
- (transitive, law) To commit the crime of uttering (knowingly presenting forged documentation).
Derived terms
Translations
Swedish
Etymology
From Old Norse otr, from Proto-Germanic *utraz, from Proto-Indo-European *udrós (“water-animal, otter”), from *wed- (“water”).
Noun
utter c
- otter; a mammal of the family Mustelidae
Declension
References
- utter in Svensk ordbok (SO)
- utter in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
- utter in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)
Source: wiktionary.org