Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Utter

Ut′ter

,
Adj.
[OE.
utter
, originally the same word as
outer
. See
Out
, and cf.
Outer
,
Utmost
.]
1.
Outer.
“Thine utter eyen.”
Chaucer.
[Obs.]
“By him a shirt and utter mantle laid.”
Chapman.
As doth an hidden moth
The inner garment fret, not th’
utter
touch.
Spenser.
2.
Situated on the outside, or extreme limit; remote from the center; outer.
[Obs.]
Through
utter
and through middle darkness borne.
Milton.
The very
utter
part of Saint Adelmes point is five miles from Sandwich.
Holinshed.
3.
Complete; perfect; total; entire; absolute;
as,
utter
ruin;
utter
darkness
.
They . . . are
utter
strangers to all those anxious thoughts which disquiet mankind.
Atterbury.
4.
Peremptory; unconditional; unqualified; final;
as, an
utter
refusal or denial
.
Clarendon.
Utter bar
(Law)
,
the whole body of junior barristers.
See
Outer bar
, under 1st
Outer
.
[Eng.]
–
Utter barrister
(Law)
,
one recently admitted as barrister, who is accustomed to plead without, or outside, the bar, as distinguished from the benchers, who are sometimes permitted to plead within the bar.
[Eng.]
Cowell.

Ut′ter

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Uttered
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Uttering
.]
[OE.
outren
, freq. of
outen
to utter, put out, AS.
ūtian
to put out, eject, fr.
ūt
out. √198. See
Out
, and cf.
Utter
,
Adj.
]
1.
To put forth or out; to reach out.
[Obs.]
How bragly [proudly] it begins to bud,
And
utter
his tender head.
Spenser.
2.
To dispose of in trade; to sell or vend.
[Obs.]
Such mortal drugs I have, but Mantua's law
Is death to any he that
utters
them.
Shakespeare
They bring it home, and
utter
it commonly by the name of Newfoundland fish.
Abp. Abbot.
3.
hence, to put in circulation, as money; to put off, as currency; to cause to pass in trade; – often used, specifically, of the issue of counterfeit notes or coins, forged or fraudulent documents, and the like;
as, to
utter
coin or bank notes
.
The whole kingdom should continue in a firm resolution never to receive or
utter
this fatal coin.
Swift.
4.
To give public expression to; to disclose; to publish; to speak; to pronounce.
“Sweet as from blest, uttering joy.”
Milton.
The words I
utter

Let none think flattery, for they 'll find 'em truth.
Shakespeare
And the last words he
uttered
called me cruel.
Addison.
Syn. – To deliver; give forth; issue; liberate; discharge; pronounce. See
Deliver
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Utter

UT'TER

,
Adj.
1.
Situated on the outside or remote from the center.
2.
Placed or being beyond any compass; out of any place; as the utter deep.
3.
Extreme; excessive; utmost; as utter darkness.
4.
Complete; total; final; as utter ruin.
5.
Peremptory; absolute; as an utter refusal or denial.
6.
Perfect; mere; quite; as utter strangers.

UT'TER

, v.t.
1.
To speak; to pronounce; to express; as, to utter words; to utter sounds.
2.
To disclose; to discover; to divulge; to publish. He never utters a syllable of what I suppose to be intended as a secret.
3.
To sell; to vend; as, to utter wares. [This is obsolete, unless in the law style.]
4.
To put or send into circulation; to put off, as currency, or cause to pass in commerce; as, to utter coin or notes. A man utters a false note, who gives it in payment, knowing it to be false.