Definition of "utter"
utter1
adjective
not comparable
(now poetic, literary) Outer; furthest out, most remote.
Quotations
By him a shirt and utter mantle laid, […]
1614–1615, Homer, “The Sixth Book of Homer’s Odysseys”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., Homer’s Odysses. […], London: […] Rich[ard] Field [and William Jaggard], for Nathaniell Butter, published 1615; republished in The Odysseys of Homer, […], volume I, London: John Russell Smith, […], 1857, page 144, line 342
(obsolete) Outward.
Quotations
Wo be to you ſcrybꝭ / ãd phariſes ypocritꝭ / for ye make clene the vtter ſide off the cuppe / and off the platter: but with in they are full of brybery and exceſſe.
1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], Matthew :, folio xxxiij, recto
Absolute, unconditional, total, complete.
Quotations
utter2
verb
third-person singular simple present utters, present participle uttering, simple past and past participle uttered
(transitive) To reveal or express (an idea, thought, desire, etc.) with speech.
Quotations
[…] tho’ a few odd Fellows will utter their own Sentiments in all Places, yet much the greater Part of Mankind have enough of the Courtier to accommodate their Converſation to the Taſte and Inclination of their Superiors.
1749, Henry Fielding, “The Trial of Partridge, the Schoolmaster, for Incontinency; The Evidence of his Wife; A short Reflection on the Wisdom of our Law; with other grave Matters, which those will like best who understand them most”, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume I, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], book II, page 118
(transitive, obsolete) To spit or blow (something) out of one's mouth.
Quotations
He looked in vain for the sage Nicholas Vedder, with his broad face, double chin, and fair long pipe, uttering clouds of tobacco smoke instead of idle speeches;
1819 June 23, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “Rip Van Winkle”, in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., number I, New York, N.Y.: […] C. S. Van Winkle, […], pages 82–83
Four little winged marble boys used to play their virgin fancies, spouting out ever fresh streams from their innocent-wanton lips, in the square of Lincoln’s-inn […] Are the stiff-wigged living figures, that still flitter and chatter about that area, less gothic in appearance? or, is the splutter of their hot rhetoric one half so refreshing and innocent, as the little cool playful streams those exploded cherubs uttered?
1821 September, Charles Lamb, “The Old Benchers of the Inner Temple”, in The London Magazine, volume 4, number 21, page 280
(transitive, obsolete) To offer (something) for sale; to sell.
Quotations
[…] certayne Merchants […] obteyned licence ſafely to arriue here in Ireland with their wares, and to vtter the ſame.
1577, Raphaell Holinshed, “The Historie of Irelande […]”, in The Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande […], volume I, London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Iohn Hunne, page 19
[…] at the Olimpian games […] ſome cam as Merchants to vtter their commodities, […]
1605, Francis Bacon, “The Second Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], folio 71, recto
(transitive, law) To put (currency) into circulation.
Quotations
[…] there are […] forrayne peeces of golde, of the like quantitie and fashion (although of lesse value) lyke to an Englyshe Angell, brought hyther, and here vttered and payde for ten shyllynges of syluer, beyng for they lacke of wayght, and for the basenesse of the allay, not worth. vii. shillinges, to the great deceite and losse of the subiectes of this her Realme:
1564, Proclamation of Elizabeth I of England dated November, 1564, London: Richard Jugge and John Cawood, 1565
If two persons jointly prepare counterfeit coin, and then utter it in different shops, apart from each other, but in concert, and intending to share the proceeds, the utterings of each are the joint utterings of both, and they may be convicted jointly.
1842, cited in Supplement to The Jurist, containing a Digest of All the Reported Cases […] published during the year 1842, p. 49
Whoever, except as authorized by law, makes or utters or passes, or attempts to utter or pass, any coins of gold or silver or other metal, or alloys of metals, intended for use as current money, whether in the resemblance of coins of the United States or of foreign countries, or of original design, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
1948, 18 U.S. Code § 486, Uttering coins of gold, silver or other metal
(transitive, obsolete) To show (something that has been hidden); to reveal the identity of (someone).
Quotations
[…] there ſhuld be no man with him / whyle he [Joseph] vttred him ſelfe vnto his brethern.
1530 January 27 (Gregorian calendar), W[illiam] T[yndale], transl., chapter 45, in [The Pentateuch] (Tyndale Bible), Malborow [Marburg], Hesse: […] Hans Luft [actually Antwerp: Johan Hoochstraten], Genesis xlv:, folio lxvij, recto
(transitive, obsolete) To send or put (something) out.
Quotations
Seeſt not thilke ſame Hawthorne ſtudde,How bragly it beginnes to budde,And vtter his tender head?
1579, Immeritô [pseudonym; Edmund Spenser], “Marche. Aegloga Tertius.”, in The Shepheardes Calender: […], London: […] Hugh Singleton, […]; reprinted as H[einrich] Oskar Sommer, editor, The Shepheardes Calender […], London: John C. Nimmo, […], 1890, folio 8, verso
(transitive, law) To commit the crime of uttering (knowingly presenting forged documentation).
Quotations
A man named Edward Agar was convicted in October 1855 of uttering a forged cheque, and sentenced to be transported for life.
1875, George Hayter Chubb, Protection from fire and thieves including the construction of locks, safes, strong-rooms, and fireproof buildings : burglary, and the means of preventing it; fire, its detection, prevention, and extinction; etc. : also a complete list of patents for locks and safes, page 23