a., adv. and sb. [comb. of ALL and TOGETHER. Orig. a mere strengthening of all, but, like all itself, gradually becoming adverbial, in which sense alone it is now used when written in combination.]
A. adj. A strengthened form of ALL a.
† 1. The whole together, the entire; everything, the whole, the total. (Often absol.; cf. ALL A II.) Obs.
1154. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1137, § 4. & brenden sythen þe cyrce & al te gædere.
c. 1200. Ormin, 9581. Issraæle þeod … all togeddre att Drihhtin Godd.
1526. Tindale, 1 Cor. vii. 19. Circumcision is nothynge … but the keppynge of the commaundmentes of god is altogether.
1528. More, Heresyes, IV. Wks. 1557, 285/1. Ananias & Saphyra … made semblance as though they brought to the apostles altogether.
1611. Bible, Ex. xix. 18. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke. Ibid., Ps. cxxxix. 4. There is not a worde in my tongue: but lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.
† 2. pl. All united, all in a company; all inclusively; all without exception. Now written separately all together.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 26. Bot alle þei were forholn, & failed þam alle togider.
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 2955. Cumes forth, he said, ye altogeder.
1535. Coverdale, Ezek. xxxiv. 13. Proude wordes agaynst me, which I haue herde altogether.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., V. i. 245. Then altogether They fell vpon me.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, 102. Solidity, Conveniency, and Ornament, altogether to be observed in true Building.
[Mod. They came separately, but went away all together.]
B. adv. [by gradual transference from the sb. to the predicate; cf. ALL C 1.]
1. Everything being included; in all respects, in every particular; entirely, wholly, totally, quite.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 19. Here fifealde mihte was altegeder attred.
c. 1330. Kyng of Tars, 601. Whon he hedde altogedere ipreyd, And al that evere he couthe iseyd.
1534. More, On the Passion, Wks. 1557, 1373/1. Were he as bad as Judas altogiter.
1611. Bible, John ix. 34. Thou wast altogether born in sins.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 441, ¶ 9. Scenes and Objects, and Companions that are altogether new.
1782. Priestley, Nat. & Rev. Relig., I. 30. The idea of chance is altogether excluded.
1857. Buckle, Civiliz., I. ii. 125. In Greece, we see a country altogether the reverse of India.
1881. Trollope, Ayala’s Angel, III. lvi. 163. That kept me from being altogether wretched.
2. Uninterruptedly, without deviation or admixture. (Cf. ALL C 4.).
1700. Lond. Gaz., mmmdcix/4. A dark Iron-grey Horse … Paces altogether. Ibid. (1709), mmmmdcviii/4. A Bay Mare,… Trots altogether.
3. For altogethor: for all time to come, as a permanent arrangement, finally, definitely, permanently, ‘for good.’ (For is sometimes omitted.)
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Paraphr. Luke xxiv. 44. Did he not once for altogether … take awaie all autoritie from the priestes?
1580. North, Plutarch (1676), 311. Perswading themselves he was fled for altogether.
1674. Scheffer, Lapland, xxvi. 121. Most of them then were baptized very late … some deferred it for altogether.
1825. J. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, II. 40. Walter and Edith were not in a humour, it seemed, for separating outright, and altogether.
C. sb. A whole, a tout ensemble.
1667. Waterhouse, Fire of Lond., 141. Her Congregations, Her Citizens, Her altogether has been as orderly [etc.].
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 33. We only call … Gods All-fillingness an altogether, to loosen it from any thing of sundership.
1865. Pall Mall G., 26 June, 9/2. The deft touch of American fingers … impart a finish and an altogether (this is much better than to steal tout-ensemble from the wicked Emperor).
