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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Utter

U'ter, a.

adjective

a. [A-S. utter, uter, exterior, from ut, ute, out, comparative utor. See OUT, and cf. UTMOST and OUTER.]

Sense 1. Outer. [Obs.] “By him a shirt, and utter mantle laid.” Chapman.

As doth a hidden moth The inner garment fret, not the utter touch. Spenser.

Sense 2. Situated on the outside, or remote from the center; outer. [Obs.] “Through utter and through middle darkness.” Milton.

The very utter part of Saint Adelmes point is five miles from Sandwich. Holinshed.

Sense 3. Complete; perfect; total; final; as, utter ruin; utter darkness.

Sense 4. Peremptory; absolute; as, an utter refusal or denial.

Sense 5. Perfect; mere; entire; quite.

They . . . are utter strangers to all those anxious thoughts which disquiet mankind. Atterbury.

Utter barrister (Law), one recently admitted as barrister, who was accustomed to plead without the bar, as distinguished from the benchers, who were permitted to plead within the bar. Cowell.

Ŭt'ter, v. t.

verbtransitive

[imp. & p. p. UTTERED; p. pr. & vb. n. UTTERING.] [From utter, supra. Cf. M. H. Ger. ūzeren, N. H. Ger. āuszern, from āzer, auszer, out of, ūuszer, outward, outer, O. H. Ger. ūzōn, to utter, from ūz, out, out of.]

Sense 1. To put forth or out; to reach out. [Obs.] “And utter his tender head.” Spenser.

Sense 2. To dispose of in the way of trade; to sell or vend. [Obs.]

Such mortal drugs I have, but Mantua’s law Is death to any he that utters them. Shak.

They bring it home, and utter it commonly by the name of Newfoundland fish. Abbot.

Sense 3. Hence, to put in circulation, as money; to put off, as currency; to cause to pass in trade; 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.

Sense 4. To give expression to; to disclose; to publish; to speak; to pronounce. “Sweet as from blest voices uttering joy.” Milton.

The words I utter let none think flattery. Shak.

And the large words he uttered called me cruel. Addison.

Synonyms—To deliver; give forth; liberate; discharge; pronounce. See DELIVER.