Forms: α. 4–6 enter(e, 5–6 entier(e, -tyer(e, (4 entre, 4–7 enteer(e), 7 entyre, 6– entire. β. 4 intier, 5–6 intere, 5–7 intyre, 6 Sc. inteir, 6–9 intire. [a. OF. entier, entir = Pr. entier, entieyr, Cat. enter, Sp. entero, It. intero, Pg. inteiro:—L. inte·gr-um, f. in not + *tag- root of tangĕre to touch.
The L. integer was used in the lit. senses ‘whole, unbroken, sound,’ and in the fig. of ‘untainted, upright’; these senses remained in early French and consequently in Middle English, but with very few exceptions only the lit. senses have survived to the present time.]
A. adj.
1. Whole; with no part excepted.
a. 1400. Symbols Passion, 229, in Leg. Rood, 196. To sen it a twelf-moneth ich day enter.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 1261. To tell þair torfer in tere it wald tary me to lang.
1494. Fabyan, 5. Of bothe landes the Cronycles entyere.
a. 1535. More, On the Passion, Wks. 1337/2. The very real thinges that is conteyned vnder both those fourmes, is one entiere bodye.
1618. Sir H. Carey, in Fortesc. Papers, 56. I have yourself to be my noble wittness for my intyre proceedeing.
1667. Milton, P. L., XII. 264. The Sun shall in mid Heav’n stand still A day entire.
1747. Wesley, Prim. Physick (1762), 111. The entire Creation was at Peace with Man.
1816. Kirby & Sp., Entomol. (1828), II. xviii. 107. Destroys an intire colony, of which she would be the founder.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 7. 48. Sufficiently strong to bear the entire weight of the body.
2. Complete; constituting a whole; including all the essential parts. † In early use also, perfect, containing all that is desirable.
c. 1430. Lydg., Bochas, I. i. (1544), 1 b. Paradyse, a place most entiere.
1571. Digges, Pantom., I. xxxv. L j b. You shall make one entier table of all, conteyning the number of myles, furlongs, &c.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 322/1. The Drill, the Drill Bow, and the Drill Plate, go all together as one entire Instrument of three parts.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., Pref. *****. I do not design an entire Treatise in this Preface.
1804. Ann. Rev., II. 77/1. The occupier of what is called an entire farm.
1873. Symonds, Grk. Poets, iii. 81. He [Phocylides] says: ‘In justice the whole of virtue exists entire.’
† b. Applied about 1722 to a kind of malt liquor (similar to what is now called ‘porter’). (See quot. 1802.) Obs.; but see C. 4.
1742. Lond. & Country Brewer, I. (ed. 4), 25. For intire small Beer, five or six Barrels off a Quarter.
1754. Connoisseur, xv. A publican … ventured an hogshead of entire butt on the candidate who serves him with beer.
1771. Smollett, Humph. Cl. (1815), 148. Calvert’s entire butt beer.
1802. [J. Feltham], Picture of London, 249. Porter obtained its name about the year 1730 … [it had previously been] the practice to call for a pint of three threads, meaning a third of ale, beer, and twopenny…. A brewer of the name of Harwood conceived the idea of making a liquor which should partake of the united flavours of [all three] … calling it entire or entire butt.
1839. Bailey, Festus, xviii. (1848), 181. And porter and stout, entire and brown.
3. Of a quality, state of feeling, condition, fact or action: Realized in its full extent, thorough, complete, total. (Entire affection, friendship, etc., may sometimes occur in this sense, but chiefly belong to the obs. sense 10.)
c. 1400. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems, 256. Than schalt þou sacrifice accepte Of riȝtwisnesse & treuþe entere.
1413. Lydg., Pilgr. Sowle, IV. xx. (1483), 64. I had ioye entier and eke gladnesse.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 587. But Gods cures are like himselfe, perfect, intire, and absolute.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. (1843), I. 5/2. That he might … present to his majesty the entire peace and restitution of his family.
1692. South, Serm. (1697), I. 475. The Intire overthrow of this mighty, and numerous, or rather innumerable Host of the Midianites.
1712. W. Rogers, Voy., p. vi. I wish you intire Health and Happiness.
1755. Young, Centaur, ii. Wks. 1757, IV. 141. Hell is nothing but an intire absence from Him.
1793. Burke, Corr. (1844), IV. 186. If you did not give entire credit to my declarations.
1836. J. Gilbert, Chr. Atonem., vi. (1852), 161. The statements of Scripture are in entire harmony with this representation.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 220. An Act granting entire liberty of conscience to all sects.
1879. R. K. Douglas, Confucianism, iii. 80. Entire sincerity is required of them who approach the altar.
b. With agent-noun or sb. descriptive of a person: That is thoroughly of the character described. † Also formerly as predicate: Thoroughly established in (an opinion, a resolve, knowledge, etc.); cf. Fr. entier ‘qui maintient entières ses idées, ses volontés’ (Littré).
1534. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), G g. All these mortall men ar so entier in their owne wylles.
1641. Hinde, J. Bruen, lvii. 190. All such … as were most sound and entire in the Knowledge of the Truth.
1655. trans. Sorel’s Com. Hist. Francion, XI. 23. They did not know her to be entire in her resolutions, and that she would not forsake them for any Remonstrances.
1657. Earl Monm., trans. Paruta’s Pol. Disc., 85. The Romans never laid down Arms but when they were entire Victors.
Mod. He is an entire believer in Christianity.
† c. Of persons: Wholly devoted to another, perfectly beloved. In later use, of friends and friendly intercourse: Unreserved, familiar, intimate. Obs. [cf. Fr. ami entier, and equivalent in It. and Sp.]
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., I. 279. Hym nil I undertake That is thi dere entere.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. v. Thy doughter deare That was to the so passingly entere.
1605. Bp. Hall, Medit. & Vowes, II. § 38. 161. It is best to bee curteous to all, entire with few.
1611. Coryat, Crudities, Ep. Ded. a viij b. My most sincere and entire friend M. Lionel Cranfield.
1641. Bp. Hall, Rem. Wks., II. (1660), 89. It troubled him an hundred times more to be cast out from this (more entire) presence.
1643. Horn & Robotham, Gate Lang. Unl., xciii. § 909. Waiwardnesse estrangeth the entirest friends.
a. 1718. Penn, Life, Wks. 1726, I. 232. An entire and constant Friend.
4. Whole, unbroken, intact; not mutilated or decayed; undiminished in quantity or extent.
a. 1631. Donne, Paradoxes (1652), 86. [A miser’s treasure profits no one;] Yet it remains intire.
1656. H. More, Antid. Ath., III. viii. (1712), 113. His body was found entire.
1666. Evelyn, Diary, 7 Sept. Nothing remaining intire but the inscription in the architrave.
1697. Potter, Antiq. Greece, I. xxv. (1715), 132. Their Estates, which were all that time preserv’d entire to them.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., I. x. 102. The Portugueze capitulated to leave Ormuze, with all the Fortifications intire.
1805. Wordsw., Prel., IV. (1850), 101. In military garb, Though faded yet entire.
1826. Kirby & Sp., Entomol. (1828), IV. xxxvii. 19. The headless animal made the same movements as when intire.
b. spec. Of male animals: Not castrated. [So in all Romanic langs.]
1834–43. Southey, Doctor (1849), 339. What the Spaniards … call a Caballo Padre, or what some of our own writers … appellate an entire horse.
1875. Whyte-Melville, Katerfelto, vii. 78. The animal, though an entire horse … responded lovingly and gently to his caress.
c. Of immaterial things: Unimpaired, undiminished.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 136. But there continue still in their entire and as flourishing state as euer the city Hebata and Oruros.
1635. A. Stafford, Fem. Glory (1869), 107. The first Principles of my Religion … I will preserve entyre.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 146. If he our Conquerour … Have left us this our spirit and strength intire.
1736. Butler, Anal., I. i. 25. They discover Apprehension, Memory, Reason, all entire.
1853. Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. xvi. 219. When Christian principles were left entire.
† d. Of a question: Intact; that has not been entered upon. Of an offence: In no degree atoned for or ‘purged.’ Obs.
1598. Grenewey, Tacitus’ Ann., III. xvi. (1612), 71. Yet that the offence committed against his father, was entire.
1698. Sidney, Disc. Govt., I. § 3 (1704), 8. So that the Question remains intire, as if he had never mention’d it.
e. Of persons: With unimpaired strength, not fatigued or worn, fresh. [So L. integer.] arch.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. vi. 44. Backe to fight againe, new breathed and entire.
1628. Hobbes, Thucyd., 113. Wonne to the Warre, when you were entire, but repenting it vpon the dammage.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low-C. Warrs, 291. Six hundred intire, beside two hundred sick and wounded.
1853. Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. i. (1872), 8. He is entire, powerful because he has not spent his strength.
5. Wholly of one piece; continuous throughout; one and undivided. Now only in scientific use.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. vii. 33. But all of Diamond perfect pure and cleene It framed was, One massie entire mould.
1604. Shaks., Oth., V. ii. 144. Of one entyre and perfect Chrysolite.
1679. Penn, Addr. Prot., I. ix. (1692), 46. Being but one Entire Interest throughout the World.
1699. Dampier, Voy., II. I. i. 14. A turn on the East side of the River, which is here entire: for a little before … we met the main stream where it parts into the 2 channels.
1703. Maundrell, Journ. Jerus. (1714), 4. Intire blocks of wood.
1726. Leoni, Alberti’s Archit., I. 42 a. All Stone should be entire … you may know whether it is entire or crack’d.
1786. trans. Beckford’s Vathek (1868), 28. The chasm closed, and the ground became as entire as the rest of the plain.
1817. W. Selwyn, Law Nisi Prius, II. 860. If a man be imprisoned … on the 1st day of January, and kept in prison till the 1st day of February … the whole is one entire trespass.
1834. McMurtrie, Cuvier’s Anim. Kingd., 200. The first dorsal entire; while on the contrary, the last rays of the second, as well as those of the anal which correspond to them, are detached.
1880. Gray, Struct. Bot., vi. § 5. 245. The calyx or corolla when gamophyllous … is said to be … entire, when the union is complete to the summit or border.
b. Of troops: Forming an unbroken body. Now only in techn. phrase Rank entire.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 505. The Duke of Bedford … made likewise an entier battayle.
1691. Proc. agst. French, in Select. fr. Harl. Misc. (1793), 476/1. They marched intire through the body of the country.
1833. Regul. Instr. Cavalry, I. 126. The Squads should occasionally be formed rank entire.
1879. A. Forbes, in Daily News, 13 June, 5/6. That the true tactic is to work in rank entire.
c. In scientific use: Having an unbroken outline, without notches or indentations. Said, e.g., of leaves, shells, certain parts of animal bodies.
1757. Miller, in Phil. Trans., L. 435. The leaves are intire, and come to a point at their base.
1817. Coleridge, Biog. Lit., II. 211. The gable ends of the houses all towards the street, some in the ordinary triangular form and entire as the botanists say.
1828. Stark, Elem. Nat. Hist., II. 180. Last segment of the abdomen entire or notched.
1835. Lindley, Introd. Bot. (1848), I. 261. The entire blade of the Box tree.
1866. Tate, Brit. Mollusks, iii. 45. The aperture is entire (f, that is, not notched or produced into a canal.
† 6. Wholly of one kind, homogeneous; free from alien admixture. Obs.
1622–62. Heylin, Cosmogr., III. (1673), 41/2. And yet those Maronites though intire without intermixture are held.
1640. Quarles, Enchirid., IV. xcvii. It is … a plaine suit of one entyre cloth.
1648. Petit. Eastern Assoc., 14. Were both the Houses … so intire from Opinionists … as we could wish.
1683. Brit. Spec., 39. The old Language of the Britains who have been … curious to preserve it entire without any mixture.
1683. Salmon, Doron Med., III. 671. It preserves it safe and intire from filth.
1699. Dampier, Voy., II. I. viii. 157. It was brackish: for though the fresh water is born up by the Salt, and it might be intire without mixture, yet [etc.].
b. Of qualities, feelings, etc.: Pure, unmixed. Cf. 3.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. iv. 352. See now whether pure Feare, and entire Cowardise, doth not make thee wrong this vertuous Gentlewoman, to close with vs?
1667. Milton, P. L., III. 265. Wrauth shall be no more Thenceforth, but in thy presence Joy entire.
7. Wholly reserved; unshared. Entire tenancy (Law): see quot.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 137. Entire Tenancie is that which is contrary to severall Tenancie, and signifieth a sole possession in one man.
1707. Hearne, Collect. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), I. 339. Mr. Foulkes keeping it intire to himself.
Mod. He has the entire control of that department. I will take the entire responsibility of this step.
b. Entire to itself: secluded, kept apart, private.
a. 1618. Raleigh, Rem. (1644), 10. That Aristocracy be not too magnificent nor intire to it self, but communicate with the people some commodities of State or Government.
1649. Milton, Eikon., xxviii. Those few mortifying hours that should have been entirest to themselves.
II. In ethical sense.
† 8. Of reputations or persons: Free from reproach, unblemished, blameless. Obs.
1577. Holinshed, Chron., II. 193. Richard Grafton was a right reverend man whiles he lived and of entier name also being dead.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 292. Daughter of God and Man, immortal Eve, For such thou art, from sin and blame entire.
1678. R. Barclay, Apol. Quakers, X. § 16. 304. The Bishops and Apostles … should be Men of most intire Manners and Life.
1779. J. Moore, View Soc. Fr. (1789), I. i. 5. He who has the vigour to disentangle himself from the snares of deep play … with his character entire may be esteemed a fortunate man.
† 9. Of persons and their actions: Characterized by integrity; incorruptible, honest, upright. Obs.
c. 1430. Lydg., Bochas, III. v. (1554), 77 b. There was a prince, full notable and entere Called Otanes.
c. 1500. Doctr. Gd. Servaunts, in Poet. Tracts (Percy), 3. Be of thy mynde peasyble and entere.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb. (1702), I. V. 516. Some very honest and intire Men stayed still there. Ibid. (1703), II. VI. 54. From whom he could expect no entire, and upright dealing.
1707. Hearne, Collect., 30 May (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), II. 17. John Urry of Xt Church, an intire Man.
† 10. Of feelings, the heart, etc.: Unfeigned, sincere, genuine, earnest. Obs.
The examples of this sense are often not easily to be distinguished from those of the still current sense 3, to which expressions like entire affection, etc., if used at all, would now belong.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 106. Treuly assoiled of god for his entre sorwe of synne.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 7365. He hem met with hert entier.
1509. Fisher, Fun. Serm. C’tess Richmond, Wks. 302. But we shall with moost entyer mindes beseche hym. Ibid. (1535), Wks., 382. Draw nygh vnto hym with entiere deuotion.
1556. Lauder, Tractate, 528. With hert Inteir I wald beseik your Maiesteis.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. ii. 23. Signior Hortensio, I haue often heard Of your entire affection to Bianca.
1650. Hubbert, Pill Formality, 193. That love, and intire affection that you bear to their poor souls.
a. 1716. Blackall, Wks. (1723), I. 112. The strictest Friendships, the most intire Love, and the firmest Peace.
† 11. The notion ‘intimate’ developed in sense 3 b seems to have suggested an association of entire with interior. Hence perh. Spenser’s parts entire = ‘inward parts.’
[1483. Cath. Angl., Entyrly, intime.
15[?]. Cooper, Lat. Dict., Intime, entirely.]
1590. Spenser, F. Q., IV. viii. st. 48. Casting flakes of lustful fire … into their hearts and parts entire.
† B. adv. a. Wholly, completely. b. Heartily, sincerely, unfeignedly. Obs.
a. a. 1400[?]. Chester Pl. (1843), I. 193. Seith fourtie daies are gone intier.
b. c. 1430. Syr. Gener. (Roxb.), 7609. He that me loued most entier.
c. 1430. Lydg., Smyth & his Dame, 467, in Hazl., E. P. P., III. 218. She … thanked God intere.
C. sb.
1. The whole; the assemblage of all the parts; the full extent (of anything). In recent use somewhat rare.
1597. Bacon, Coulers Good & Evill, v. (Arb.), 145. It is not safe to deuide, but to extoll the entire still in generall.
1609. Tourneur, Fun. Poem, 375, C iij b. The partes; th’entire; and eu’ry circumstance That was contingent.
1804. Castlereagh, in S. J. Owen, Wellesley’s Disp., 250. We have by two wars … bound up the entire of Mysore in our dominions.
1832. G. Downes, Lett. Cont. Countries, I. 234. A range of seven graves, enclosed each by lofty railings—so that the entire resembles [etc.].
1842. S. Lover, Handy Andy, viii. The death of her husband, who left her the entire of his property.
1876. Gladstone, Homeric Synchr., 193. In the entire of the Poems we never hear of a merchant ship of the Greeks.
2. Entirety; completeness.
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 158. Maintaining the Liberties of Holy Church in their Entire.
1859. Thackeray, Virgin., lxiii. (D.). Too long to print in entire.
3. An entire horse; a stallion.
1881. J. F. Keane, Journ. Medinah, 160. He bought two young bay entires for one hundred dollars each.
1886. Daily News, 14 Dec., 3/1. Four heavy-looking grey entires.
4. Short for entire beer: see A 2 b.
Not now in current use exc. on tavern sign-boards and the like, where ‘A. B. C. & Co’s entire’ is still advertised.
1825. Hone, Every-day Bk., I. 691. Hagger’s entire [humorously for ‘ginger-beer’], two-pence a bottle.
1860. A. Wynter, Curiosities Civiliz., 239. On countless sign-boards of the metropolis this [porter] … is advertised by the title of ‘entire,’ and it is thus that the liquid and its name arose.
