Forms: α. 5 outer, outre (ottre, Sc. vtre), 6 vter, outter. β. 5 utterne, uttren, 5–7 vtter (6–7 Sc. wtter), vttre, 5 vttyr, 6 vtter; 5– utter, 6–7 uttre. [Partly from OUT adv. or v. (with shortening of the vowel as in UTTER adv.), partly ad. MDu. uteren (also uyteren, Du. uiteren, WFris. uterje) to drive away, announce, speak, show, make known, or MLG. üteren, ütern to turn out, sell, speak, demonstrate, etc. (LG. ütern), = MHG. ûʓeren, ûʓern, iuʓern (G. äussern to speak, declare, † bring forth); Da. ytre, yttre, Sw. yttra, Norw. ytra, are from LG. The AF. uttrer (1463), Anglo-L. utterare (1551), are obviously from the English word.
For the earlier oute(n, owten, in Chaucer, Wife’s Prol., 521, and Canon Yeom. Prol. & T., 281, two later readings are, respectively, outer, vttren.]
I. † 1. To put (goods, wares, etc.) forth or upon the market; to issue, offer, or expose for sale or barter; to dispose of by way of trade; to vend, sell. Obs.
In very frequent use from c. 1540 to c. 1655.
α. c. 1400[?]. Chaucer’s Wife’s Prol., 521 (Petw. MS.). With daungere outer [v.rr. oute, outen, owten] we al oure chaffare.
1423. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 255/1. Swiche warkes … [they] kepen and senden unto the fayres…, and ther thei outre hem.
1483. in J. H. Glover, Kingsthorpiana (1883), 43. Yf any man brewe for the avayle of the Churche, that all other brewers cesse for the tyme uppon lefulle warnynge tyll that be outred.
β. 1425. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 307/2. Þat your said Commens may utter and sende her Corn, Bestus and Merchaundise over the see, into the parties abovesaid.
1436. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 175. At Venice of them men wol it bye, Then utterne [v.r. Thei utter] there the chaffare be the payse.
c. 1450. Harl. Contin. Higden (Rolls), VIII. 450. These men of Flaundres commynge to londe to utter theire merchandyse.
1523. Act 14 & 15. Hen. VIII., c. 1 § 1. Yf any person … doo nat ther or elles where bargayne utter and sell the sayed Clothe.
1570. Foxe, A. & M. (ed. 2), 1206/1. Seeing good wyne nedeth no tauerne bushe to vtter it.
1607. Middleton, Michaelmas Term, IV. ii. 13. Do they [sc. traders] not thrive best when they utter most?
1649. Bp. Hall, Cases Consc., III. vii. 296. When they gathered their Frankincense, none of it might be uttered till the Priest had the tithe of it.
a. 1668. Lassels, Voy. Italy (1698), I. 68. Besides they utter a world of Taffataes, Velvets,… and other things of value.
1735. Berkeley, Querist, § 544. Whether she [sc. Lyons] doth not receive and utter all those commodities.
1764. Burn, Poor Laws, 243. To keep a common ale-house…, and to utter and sell therein victuals.
1825. Scott, Betrothed, xxiii. Where other men are admitted that have wares to utter.
[1863. H. Cox, Instit., I. xi. 279. Booksellers were, by statute…, probibited from uttering Tindal’s translation of the Bible.]
fig. and in fig. context. c. 1430. Lydg., Poems (Percy Soc.), 150. Uttre nevir no darnel with good corn, Begyn no trouble whan men trete of pees.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., II. i. 16. Beauty is bought by iudgement of the eye, Not vttred by base sale of chapmens tongues.
1613. J. Taylor (Water P.), Watermen’s Suit, Wks. (1630), 174/1. [The waterman’s] worke and ware is seene and knowne, and hee vtters it with the sweat of his browes.
1624. Quarles, Job, v. 60. Earth’s black babbling Daughter (she that heares, And vents alike, both Truth and Forgeries, And vtters, often, cheaper then she buyes).
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, vi. The devil has factors enough to utter his wares.
absol. 1600. Cornwallis, Ess., ii. C 5. Let vs receiue, and vtter, be capable, and returne increase of this fruite.
b. To announce for sale; = CRY v. 5 b. rare.
1806–7. J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life (1826), IV. i. The infernal dialects in which their goods are uttered.
† c. intr. Of goods: To find purchasers; = SELL v. 6. Obs.–1
1611. Cotgr., Marchandise d’emploicte, ware that sells well, that vtters quickly.
2. To give currency to (money, coin, notes, etc.); to put into circulation; esp. to pass or circulate (base coin, forged notes, etc.) as legal tender.
c. 1483. Chron. London (1827), 110. Every man, because of the said newe exchange, outred gold, and kept sylver.
c. 1550. Disc. Common Weal Eng. (1893), 78. Strangers haue conterfeted oure coine,… and heare vttered it, as well for oure gold and silver, as for oure chefe commoditie.
1554–5. Act 1 & 2 Philip & Mary, c. 1. To the intent to utter or make paiment withe the same [sc. counterfeit foreign coin] within this Realme.
1602. Fulbecke, 1st Pt. Parall., 86. To utter or cause to be uttered false mony knowing it to be false.
1697. Evelyn, Numism., i. 16. Tokens which every Tavern … presumed to stamp and utter.
1718. S. Sewall, Diary, 21 Sept. Found Guilty of uttering Counterfeit Bills of Credit.
c. 1740. Fielding, Ess. Char. Men, Wks. 1784, IX. 417. Uttering great number of promissory notes.
1780. H. Walpole, in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1844), IV. 317. Last night I saw a proof-piece of seven-shilling pieces…. I know they were not uttered, but could you get me one from the Mint?
1825. W. O. Russell & Ryan, Crown Cases, 455. The prisoner was … convicted … of the offence of uttering and publishing, as true, a forged promissory note.
1848. Akerman, Introd. Study Anc. & Mod. Coins, i. 2. The earliest coins … bearing the symbol of the state by which they were uttered.
1861. Act 24–25 Vict., c. 99 § 9. Whosoever shall tender, utter, or put off any false or counterfeit Coin.
absol. 1863. Stephen, Blackstone’s Comm. (ed. 5), IV. 227. The punishment of forging, uttering, and the like at common law.
1905. Daily Chron., 22 May, 5/7. Charged with being in the possession of counterfeit coins and plant for making them, and … accused also of ‘uttering.’
b. fig. and transf. Also absol.
1588. Kyd, Househ. Philos., Wks. (1901), 274. Memory,… imprinting in it selfe al the Images and formes of visible … things, could not vtter them in time conuenient … vnlesse it had so ordered.
1609. B. Jonson, Sil. Wom., IV. vi. Mavis was more deceiu’d then we; ’twas her commendation vtter’d ’hem [ante ‘these adulterate knights’] in the colledge.
1800. Addison, Amer. Law Rep., 44. Misner was indicted … for uttering this assignment.
1839. Bailey, Festus, 145. The great bards Of Greece, of Rome,… Men who have forged gods—uttered—made them pass.
† c. To issue by way of publication; to publish. Obs.
1561. in Haynes, Cecil Papers (1740), 368. Sondry Bookebynders and Stationers do utter certen Papers, wherein be prynted the Face of hir Majesty.
c. 1567. Stowe, in Surv. (1908), I. p. li. Ye same [book] was well vtteryd by ye printar.
1584. Star Chamb. Decree Printers & Stationers (1863), 9. Bokes printed in England are uttered no where els.
3. † a. To send out; esp. to issue or give out from or as from a store. Obs. rare.
1529. More, Dyaloge, III. Wks. 213/2. To by [= buy] many of the same suyle…, whiche were by them vttred to diuers yonge scolers such as thei founde properly witted.
1578. in Househ. Ord. (1790), 272. All those [pieces] that have beene uttered out of the store…, for the supplie of the fortes.
1617. Moryson, Itin., II. 243. Such victuals as are … vnfit to be vttered to the souldier.
b. To put or thrust forth, shoot or urge out; to discharge, emit, eject, exhale. Also with forth, out. Now dial.
1536. Latimer, in Strype, Eccl. Mem. (1721), I. 260. God prosper you, to the uttering all hollow harts of England.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, Tortuosa vrina, vrine vttered with payne.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., March, 15. Thilke same Hawthorne studde … beginnes to budde, And vtter his tender head.
1607. Breton, Murmurer, Wks. (Grosart), II. 10/1. His Tongue like the sting of a Serpent, which vttereth nothing but poison.
1673. R. Head, Canting Acad., 168. He that utters his Stomach in his next fellows Boots.
1820. W. Irving, Sketch Bk. (1821), I. 69. The sage Nicholas Vedder, with his … fair long pipe, uttering clouds of tobacco smoke.
1821. Lamb, Elia, I. Old Benchers. The little cool playful streams those exploded Cherubs uttered [sc. from Lincoln’s Inn Square fountain].
1905. Eng. Dial. Dict., s.v., The spouts couldn’t utter the water.
transf. 1881. P. Brooks, Candle of Lord, 14. Every candle of the Lord must utter its peculiar light.
fig. a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. iv. Shee might give passage to her thoughts, and so as it were utter out some smoke of those flames.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., V. iii. 12. My tongue may vtter forth The Venemous Mallice of my swelling heart.
† c. To produce or yield; to send out, supply, or furnish. Also in fig. context. Obs.
1547. Homilies, I. Faith, B iiij b. They that … doe lyue in sinne…, not vttering the frutes that do belong to suche an high profession.
1603. Owen, Pembrokeshire (1892), 54. The cheeffest and greatest comoditie that this sheere vttereth. Ibid., 57. It also vttereth yerelie great store of oysters.
1620. Markham, Farw. Husb., 8. The mixt Earth, which vtters Whynnes, Bryars [etc.].
† 4. intr. Of a horse: To go out of the lists or course at a tournament. Sc. Obs. rare.
1550. Lyndesay, Sqr. Meldrum, 506. Bot Talbartis Hors, with ane mischance, He outterit, and to ryn was laith.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 234. Schir Patrickis horse wtterit witht him and wald on nowayis reconter his marrow.
II. 5. trans. To send forth as a sound; to give out in an audible voice; to give vent or expression to (joy, etc.); to burst out with (a cry, yell, etc.).
c. 1400. [see UTTERING vbl. sb.].
1530. Palsgr., 769/2. I utter … my voyce, je profere.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 215 b. He vttereth great gladness.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., IV. iv. 185. Hee singes seuerall Tunes, faster then you’l tell money: hee vtters them [etc.].
1612. Brinsley, Lud. Lit., iii. As They [sc. vowels] being rightly vttered.
1621. J. Taylor (Water P.), Sir G. Nonsence, Wks. (1630), Aa 1 b. Three sighs, smilingly vttered in the Hebrew Character.
1667. Milton, P. L., III. 347. A shout … sweet As from blest voices, uttering joy.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 468, ¶ 1. Dictating to a Set of young Players, in what Manner to speak this Sentence, and utter t’other Passion.
1786. trans. Beckford’s Vathek, 209. She uttered a tremendous yell.
1800. Wordsw., Michael, 347. When I heard thee … First uttering, without words, a natural tune.
1815. Stephens, in Shaw’s Gen. Zool., IX. I. 18. The male has a very melancholy note … which is … uttered … while the female is sitting.
1833. Coleridge, Table Talk (1884), 253. Man only can utter consonants.
1863. W. C. Baldwin, Afr. Hunting, ii. 49. One lion … uttered a fierce roar.
fig. and transf. 1590. Shaks., Mids. N., V. ii. 44. And most deare Actors, eate no Onions, nor Garlicke; for wee are to vtter sweete breath.
1874. R. Buchanan, Poet. Wks., III. 106. Unto me all seasons utter’d pleasure.
b. With advs., esp. forth. Also transf.
1594. Spenser, Amoretti, xlviii. 10. To vtter forth the anguish of his hart.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., III. i. 87. There my fathers graue Did vtter forth a voice.
1728. Addison, ‘The Spacious firmament,’ iii. In reason’s ear they [sc. stars] all rejoice, And utter forth a glorious voice.
1827. Pollok, Course T., VI. 86. What harp of … exhaustless woe, Shall utter forth the groanings of the damned?
1872. Tennyson, Gareth & Lynette, 1053. [When] birds … utter forth May-music growing with the growing light.
6. To give utterance to (words, speech, a sentence, etc.); to speak, say, or pronounce. Occas. with advs., as forth, out.
In frequent use from c. 1840.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 12215. Then answard Vlixes, & vtterit his speche.
c. 1444. Lydg., in Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 215. Yiff thow art feerffulle to ottre thy language.
c. 1475. Partenay, 3570. For that heuy word he was ther outring.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XII. (Percy Soc.), 48. Utterynge the sentence Wythout … intellygence.
1587. in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Eliz. (1908), 392. For them that are to utter certeine speches.
1598. Mucedorus, Induct. 48. Giue me the leaue to vtter out my play.
c. 1614. Sir W. Mure, Dido & Æneas, II. 832. Her latest words scarce heard, nor vtt’red right.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., III. xlii. 298. While he was uttering the words of Consecration.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 1, ¶ 3. I scarce uttered the Quantity of an hundred Words.
1793. Cowper, To Mary, 22. Like language utter’d in a dream.
1796. H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Stud. Nat., IV. 197. She began to sob and weep without uttering a single word.
1816. Scott, Bl. Dwarf, xiv. The phrase which … she had compelled herself to utter.
1890. Retrospect Med., CII. 137. Voices of different qualities uttering sentences.
b. To give expression to (a subject, theme, one’s thoughts, etc.); to express, describe, or report in words; to speak of or about.
In very frequent use c. 1560–c. 1600, and from c. 1820.
To utter one’s stomach, etc.: see STOMACH sb. 6 b.
α. c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., IV. ix. 471. This thing … Crist expressith and outrith in a larger and generaler fourme.
c. 1475. Partenay, 1233. All is trouth that I outre you or say.
β. c. 1445. Pecock, Donet, 6. It is honest ynouȝ a man to speke and write aftir oon of þo opyniouns, and an oþire tyme to vttre þe oþire opinioun.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 216 b. In vttrynge his malycyous mynde.
1565. Harding, Answer Jewell’s Chalenge, 169. The wordes of Hilarius the Pope vtter the same doctrine.
1590. Webbe, Trav., Ep. to Rdr. I haue undertaken in this short discourse, to vtter vnto thee ye most part of such things.
1611. Bible, Isaiah, xxxii. 6. His heart will worke iniquitie,… to vtter errour against the Lord.
1616. Sir W. Mure, Misc. Poems, xvii. 6. A mourning mynd, Quhich fain wold wtter … Thir latest dutyes of a dulefull hert.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 626. Th’ event was dire, As this place testifies, and this dire change Hateful to utter.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 2, ¶ 3. I must not prostitute the Liberal Sciences so far, as not to utter the Truth in cases which [etc.].
1755. Young, Centaur, iii. Wks. 1757, IV. 181. His terrified imagination uttered horrors not to be repeated.
1816. J. Wilson, City of Plague, II. i. 115. I have many a heavy thought to utter.
1841. Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 110. If, at my grave, you utter my name.
1888. A. K. Green (Mrs. Rohlfs), Behind Closed Doors, ii. This acknowledgment was uttered with emphasis.
fig. 1550. Bible, Ps. xix. 2. Daie vnto daie vttereth the same [1611 speech].
1850. L. Hunt, Autobiog., III. xxiii. 205. Flowers utter their beauty and their fragrance, as much as birds utter their songs.
c. With clause as object, introduced by what, how, etc., or with words directly quoted.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. xvi. 90. And therfore … for drede of God … y write and outre what y now haue outrid.
1530. Tindale, Answ. More, Wks. (1573), 293/2. He vttereth how fleshly mynded he is.
1539. Bible, 2 Macc. iii. (ch. heading), Symon vttereth what treasure is in the temple.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, I. (Arb.), 32. O wights most blessed, whose wals be thus happelye touring, Æneas vttred.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., I. ii. 104. Then didst thou vtter, I am yours for euer.
1781. Cowper, Conversat., 381. Yes ma’am, and no ma’am, utter’d softly.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xv. ‘The new-born infant was barbarously murdered,’ he uttered in a low … voice.
1859. Tennyson, Elaine, 1173. Lancelot kneeling utter’d ‘Queen, Lady, my liege.’
† 7. To disclose or reveal (something unknown, secret, or hidden); to make manifest; to declare, divulge. Obs.
In frequent use from c. 1525 to c. 1590.
1444. Rolls of Parlt., V. 74/1. He nethir uttered ne communed of the specialite of the matiers concernyng … the said Tretie of peas.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 11. Uttre not the secretes of thy hert but to them that thou hast preued.
1530. Palsgr., 769/2. He that uttereth my counsayle ones, I wyll never truste hym whyle I lyve.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Mark, 33. Jesus … woulde not vtter her by name, lest [etc.].
1575. Recorde’s Gr. Artes, Ee viij b. As my erroure hath vttered my follye, so it hath procured mee better vnderstanding.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, III. x. 125. Silanus the Sooth-sayer, who had vttered Xenophons purpose.
1670. Walton, Lives, III. 209. With what gravity … his Tongue and Pen uttered Heavenly Mysteries.
1677. Temple, Lett. to Sir J. Temple, Wks. 1720, II. 459. The Prince,… uttering his whole Heart, told me [etc.].
† b. To show, display; to bring to light.
1542. Hen. VIII., Declar. Scots, in Compl. Scot., App. i. 200. After this homage done the Scottis vttered some piece of their naturall disposition.
1548. Udall, Erasm. Par. Matt. xiii. 59 b. At length the cockelles growynge vp together (their vnlykenes vtteryng or shewyng them,) began to appere.
1575. Laneham, Lett. (1871), 12. Dauncing of Lordes and Ladiez … Vttered with … liuely agilitee & commendabl grace.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, I. (Arb.), 32. The Princesse Theare the pate, in digging, of an horse intractabil vttred.
refl. 1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Luke xvii. 132. Yet did he hyde within hym a secrete power of the nature of the godhed, whiche than & neuer before vttred it self.
1574. Whitgift, Def. Answ. to the Admonition, 135. When doe … sinister affections more vtter themselues, then when an election is committed to many?
† 8. To declare, reveal, make known, or set forth the character or identity of (a person or thing). Obs.
1526. Tindale, Mark iii. 12. He streyghtly charged them that they shulde not vtter him. Ibid., 2 Thess. ii. 6, 8.
1534. More, Treat. Passion, Wks. 1305/2. John, whome Christe so tenderly loued, that … to hym secretely he vttred the false dissimuled traytour.
1548. Geste, Pr. Masse, A vi. Yf they wold, [they] could handle and vtter hyr [ante ‘this pryvate masse’] accordingly.
refl. c. 1530. Tindale, Gen. xlv. 1. Ioseph … commaunded … that there shuld be no man with him, whyle he vttred him selfe vnto his brethern.
1565. Stapleton, trans. Bede’s Hist. Ch. Eng., 137. If he wold playing utter and shewe himselfe, what he was.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, v. 54. God hath voutsafed to vtter himselfe vnto vs in his Scriptures.
† b. Const. to (be or do something). Obs. rare.
1548. Udall, Erasm. Par. Matt. xxvi. 104. Thy speche doth vtter the to be a Galilean.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 134. The kyng … stroke of her heade, and whan she was dead, vttered her to haue played the whore.
1562. Legh, Armorie, 205. He vtterith him self ye better to be yt officer, whose name he beareth.
9. refl. To express (oneself) in words.
1600. Holland, Livy, 35. The Consul was … so much surprised … that he had no power to speak. But, soon after, when he began to utter himself [etc.].
1655. trans. Sorel’s Com. Hist. Francion, VIII. 18. He beheld a Man upon the Bed, who … uttered himself in a thousand contumelious words to a Woman.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 119, ¶ 5. Several … utter themselves often in such a manner as a Clown would blush to hear.
1845. T. W. Coit, Puritanism, 129. His only refuge is to utter himself to One who is never prejudiced.
1860. Hawthorne, Marble Faun, xliii. Straying with Hilda…, he meant, at last, to utter himself upon that theme.
1881. Shairp, Asp. Poetry, 132. Each [English] poet … uttered himself in his own way,… as native passion prompted.
fig. 1824. W. Irving, T. Trav., II. 9. My feelings refused to utter themselves in rhyme.
transf. a. 1648. Ess. on Death, in Bacon’s Remaines, 9. An excellent Musician … cannot utter himself upon a defective instrument.
1878. Fr. A. Kemble, Rec. Girlhood, II. 18. She [sc. an actress] remained to utter herself in Juliet to the English public.
1913. Jane E. Harrison, Anc. Art & Ritual, iv. 91. So this intense desire uttered itself in the … [rite] of his resurrection.
10. intr. To exercise the faculty of speech; to speak. Also (rarely) const. of, on.
In the first quot. app. with indirect object.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 418. The kyng in his concelle, curtaise and noblee, Vtters þe alienes, and ansuers hyme seluene.
c. 1440. Alph. Tales, 532. When þai come aforn hym … he was compellid to vttyr.
c. 1475. Partenay, 1024. To whome ful suetly outred she and sayd, ‘Now vnderstandith’ [etc.]. Ibid., 3156. Or Gaffray … I shall you outre and say.
1576. G. Baker, Gesner’s Jewell of Health, 101 b. Bellonius, uttering and wryting of those medycines…, affirmeth [etc.].
1587. Golding, De Mornay, vi. 94. The highest God commaundeth, the second ordereth, and the third vttereth or publisheth.
1774. Francis Lett. (1901), I. 236. My trembling was so great for a few minutes that I could not utter.
1820. Creevey in C. Papers (1904), I. 338. Western … is close by my side, but has not uttered yet—such is his surprise.
1867. Bp. Wilberforce, in Life (1882), III. 226. I think it probable we shall utter now on the Vestments of the Minister.
1870. Miss Broughton, Red as Rose, I. 141. You may sit by a person for hours and never utter to them!
1898. Westm. Gaz., 27 Aug., 2/1. Not a word was, of course, spoken by the men save à propos of golf…, and as for the women…, they never uttered at all.
transf. 1873. Miss Thackeray, Old Kensington, ii. Sacred voices that will utter to her through life.
b. Of words, etc.: To be spoken; to undergo utterance.
1792. Charlotte Smith, Desmond, II. 36. Could you have seen the countenance of Geraldine, while this speech was uttering!
1850. Wordsw., Prelude, V. 110. While this was uttering,… I wondered not.
1857. J. Hamilton, Lessons fr. Gt. Biog., 314. Wishes that cannot be understood, and words that will not utter.
Hence Uttering ppl. a.
1818. Keats, Endym., III. 475. That my words not burn These uttering lips, while I in calm speech tell [etc.].
