utter

utter¹

—utterable, adj. —utterer, n. —utterless, adj.

/ut"euhr/, v.t.

1. to give audible expression to; speak or pronounce: unable to utter her feelings; Words were uttered in my hearing.

2. to give forth (cries, notes, etc.) with the voice: to utter a sigh.

3. Phonet. to produce (speech sounds, speechlike sounds, syllables, words, etc.) audibly, with or without reference to formal language.

4. to express (oneself or itself), esp. in words.

5. to give forth (a sound) otherwise than with the voice: The engine uttered a shriek.

6. to express by written or printed words.

7. to make publicly known; publish: to utter a libel.

8. to put into circulation, as coins, notes, and esp. counterfeit money or forged checks.

9. to expel; emit.

10. Obs. to publish, as a book.

11. Obs. to sell.

v.i.

12. to employ the faculty of speech; use the voice to talk, make sounds, etc.: His piety prevented him from uttering on religion.

13. to sustain utterance; undergo speaking: Those ideas are so dishonest they will not utter.

[1350-1400; ME outren (see OUT, -ER⁶); c. G äussern to declare]

utter²

—utterness, n.

/ut"euhr/, adj.

1. complete; total; absolute: her utter abandonment to grief.

2. unconditional; unqualified: an utter denial.

[bef. 900; ME; OE uttra, utera outer. See OUT, -ER⁴]

Syn. 1. See absolute.

* * *