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Origin and history of utter

utter(adj.)

comparative of out (adv.); Middle English utter, outre, outer; Old English utera, uterra, "outer, exterior, external;" Proto-Germanic *utizon, the comparative of the prehistoric adjective.

The meaning "outermost, furthest, extreme, situated at or beyond the limits of something" (archaic) is from c. 1400, hence "complete, total" ("going to the utmost point"). Its use as a "trivial emphasizer" [OED] is attested by 1898. As an adverb from c. 1200, "away, further away."

The Proto-Germanic comparative is considered the source also of Old Norse utar, Old Frisian uttra, Middle Dutch utere, Dutch uiter-, Old High German uzar, German äußer "outer."

utter(v.)

"speak, say, give public expression to," c. 1400, apparently a merging of two verbs ultimately from the same root, the source of out (adv.).

One is Middle Dutch uteren or Middle Low German utern "to show, speak; to turn out," from uter "outer," comparative adjective from ut "out" (see utter (adj.)). The other is the cognate Middle English verb outen "to disclose," from Old English utan "to put out," from ut (see out (v.)).

The notion is "to put forth." Compare German äussern "to utter, express," from aus "out;" and colloquial phrase out with it "speak up!"

Related: Uttered; uttering. From early 15c. it was used also as a commercial verb, "dispose of (goods and commodities) to the public or in the way of trade; put (money, coin) into circulation." Compare commercial use of release (v.). Hence utterance in the sense of "marketing of goods;" utterer "purveyor, publisher, spreader."

also from c. 1400

Entries linking to utter

out(adv.)

expressing motion or direction from within or from a central point, also removal from proper place or position, Old English ut "out, without, outside," from Proto-Germanic *ūt- (Old Norse, Old Frisian, Old Saxon, Gothic ut, Middle Dutch uut, Dutch uit, Old High German uz, German aus), from PIE root *uidh- "up, out, up away, on high" (source also of Sanskrit ut "up, out," uttarah "higher, upper, later, northern;" Avestan uz- "up, out," Old Irish ud- "out," Latin usque "all the way to, continuously, without interruption," Greek hysteros "the latter," Russian vy- "out").

Sense of "to a full end, completely, to a conclusion or finish" is from c. 1300. Meaning "so as to be no longer burning or alight; into darkness" is from c. 1400. Of position or situation, "beyond the bounds of, not within," early 15c. Meaning "into public notice" is from 1540s; that of "away from one's place of residence," c. 1600. The political sense of "not in office, removed or ejected from a position" is from c. 1600. Meaning "come into sight, become visible" (of stars, etc.) is by 1610s. In radio communication, a word indicating that the speaker has finished speaking, by 1950.

As a preposition, "out of; from, away from; outside of, beyond; except; without, lacking;" mid-13c., from the adverb.

Meaning "from harmonious relations, into quarreling" (as in to fall out) is from 1520s. Meaning "from one's normal state of mind" (as in put out) is from 1580s; out to lunch "insane" is student slang from 1955. Adjectival phrase out-of-the-way "remote, secluded" is attested from late 15c. Out-of-towner "one not from a certain place" is from 1911. Out of this world "excellent" is from 1938; out of sight "excellent, superior" is from 1891. To (verb) it out "bring to a finish" is from 1580s. Expression from here on out "henceforward" is by 1942. Out upon, expressing abhorrence or reproach, is from early 15c.

release(v.)

c. 1300, relēsen, "withdraw, revoke (a decree, etc.), cancel, lift; remit," from Old French relaissier, relesser "relinquish, quit, let go, leave behind, abandon, acquit," variant of relacher "release, relax," from Latin relaxare "loosen, stretch out." This is from re- "back" (see re-) + laxare "loosen" (from PIE root *sleg- "be slack, be languid"). Latin relaxare also is the source of Spanish relajar, Italian relassare, and English relax, and it is the uncle of relish.

The meaning "alleviate, ease" is mid-14c., as is sense of "set free from (duty, etc.); exonerate." It is attested from late 14c. as "grant remission, forgive; set free from imprisonment, military service, etc." Also "give up, relinquish, surrender." In law, c. 1400, "to grant a release of property."

In reference to press reports, "make available," attested from 1904; of motion pictures from 1912; of music recordings by 1962. As a euphemism for "dismiss, fire from a job" it is attested in American English by 1904. Related: Released; releasing.