Now lit. or arch. Forms: 5–7, 9 utterance, 6 -aunce, 5 vtterauns(e, -ans, 5–6 -aunce, 6–7 -ance, 5 uttraunce, 6–7 -ance, 5–7 vttraunce, 5–6 -anse; 5 vtraunce, 6 vterance, -aunce, Sc. vtyrrans, wterance. [ad. OF. oultrance, outrance: see OUTRANCE.]
† 1. A degree which surpasses bounds or goes beyond measure in respect of severity, vehemence, etc.; immoderate force or violence; excess, the uttermost. Obs.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 5130. Þen Vlixes, with vtterans vne vpponone, The derfe wordis of Diamede dullit with speche. Ibid., 5808. Vlixes with vtteraunse vnder his shild Mony stithe in stoure stroke on þere helmes.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, IX. 3221. In tokne that God his quarel wolde auaunce, Disconfiture was maad on that partie, Vpon King Iohn be violent vttraunce.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VII. v. 218. It doth me good to fele your myght and yet my lord I shewed not the vtteraunce.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., I. xv. (1811), 15. The Circumstaunce of the vtterans of ye vnkyndnesse of his .ii. doughters.
1590. Greene, Royal Exch., B 1 b. Anie … that had [not] doone some exployte before in some battaile of vtteraunce.
2. a. To (unto, into) the (such, etc.) utterance, to an extreme degree; to the bitter end; to the last or utmost extremity. Freq. (b) with fight, etc. Now lit. or arch. (revived in 19th cent.).
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 7981. Þat all the deire of the ded be done on vs two, To vttranse & yssue vne at this tyme.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Merlin, 10088. So that they sworen … thereon to ben avenged into þe vttrawnce.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VII. xii. 230. Thenne will I haue adoo with hym to the vtteraunce.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. xlviii. 163. No frensshmen wolde vndertake to kepe it [sc. a town] to the vtteraunce, for it was not stronge ynoughe.
1567. Paynell, trans. Treas. Amadis of Gaule, 239. I must take the sword by the way of armes betwene you and me onely unto the utterance of your life or mine.
1587. Greene, Euphues, Wks. (Grosart), VI. 158. To make a counterpoyse of discourtesie to the vtteraunce.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 428. Corne steeped in water, whereof they will drinke to the utterance, and be drunke.
1605. Shaks., Macb., III. i. 72. Come Fate into the Lyst, And champion me to th’ vtterance.
1860. Motley, Netherl., iv. I. 130. The champion to the utterance against Spain, stood there with lance in rest.
1907. McCarthy, Needles & Pins, xi. She had loved him well and proved it to the utterance.
(b) 1475. Bk. Noblesse, 77. To doo armes in liestis to the utteraunce.
1512. Helyas, in Thoms, Prose Rom. (1828), III. 93. Here is my gauge to sustain it to the utteraunce.
1550. J. Coke, Eng. & Fr. Heralds, § 59. Heralde the usurper fought the battayle to th’ utteraunce.
1578. H. Wotton, Courtlie Controv., 7. Thus the Gentlemen … skirmished to the vtterance.
1600. Holland, Livy, 1126. He prepared warre with all his power to the utterance. Ibid. (1606), Sueton., 16. At the saide solemnity of sword-plaiers, there fought to the uttrance … Fvrivs Leptinvs … and A. Calpenvs.
1821. Southey, Exped. Orsua, 56. I will fight him to the utterance upon this quarrel.
1834. Sir H. Taylor, Artevelde, II. v. ii. The Lower Lis They to the utterance will dispute.
1837. Browning, Strafford, V. ii. I fought her [sc. England] to the utterance, I fell, I am hers now, and I will die.
† b. To bring or put to (or unto) utterance, to overcome completely, vanquish thoroughly; to bring to ruin or subjection, put to death. Obs.
1430. Lydg., St. Margaret, 324. Thou hast me brought shortly to vttraunce, I am venquysshed. Ibid. (c. 1430) Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 135. Whan Amelech was brouhte unto uttraunce.
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 138. Whan his complices apperceyued that he was put to vtteraunce.
1509. Barclay, Shyp of Folys, 185. If thy iustyce sholde put vs to vttraunce, We sholde be damnyd for our mysgouernaunce.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, xvii. 47. He hath brought his enemy to vttranse, and slayne hym.
1596. Z. J., trans. Lavardin’s Hist. Scanderbeg, 92. The Christians increasing still in fury … did on all parts put them to utterance.
fig. 1509. Barclay, Shyp Folys, 226. Assaynge for to put our fayth to harde vttraunce.
† 3. At (the) utterance: a. With the highest degree of energy or vigor; with the utmost force or violence; to the last or uttermost degree. Freq. with verbs, esp. fight. (Cf. 2 a.)
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., ccxlii. 148 b. Than thees two worthy lordes comen … and weren redy in the place for to fight at vtteraunce. Ibid. (1485), Chas. Gt., 62. They lete theyr horses renne wyth a grete courage for to Iuste at vtteraunce. Ibid., 142. Þe pylers of marble & other stones bygonnen to brenne & make fyre at vtteraunce.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Rich. III., 26. He woulde fighte with hym at the vtteraunce.
1600. Holland, Livy, 684. Corbis and Orsua made profession to trie the title at the utterance by dint of sword.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., III. i. 73. Of him, I gather’d Honour, Which he, to seeke of me againe, perforce, Behooues me keepe at vtterance.
a. 1630. D. Hume, Hist. Ho. Douglas & Angus (1644), 30. Hee used them so gently, which he would not have done if he bad taken it [sc. the castle] at utterance.
† b. To the utmost of (one’s power). Obs.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, XII. ix. 124. Euery man … At the vtyrrans of all his fors gan fycht.
† c. At the last extremity. Obs. rare–1.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. xxiv. 26/1. A varlet … stode by and sawe the batayle…. And whan he sawe his maister almost at vttraunce, he was sorie.
