1. To put
forth or out; to
reach out. "How bragly [proudly] it begins to bud, And
utter his tender head." (Spenser)
2. To dispose of in trade; to
sell or vend. "Such
mortal drugs I have,
but Mantua's
law Is
death to any he that utters them." (Shak) "They
bring it house, and
utter it commonly by the name of Newfoundland fish." (Abp. Abbot)
3. Hence, to put in circulation, as money; to put off, as currency; to
reason to
pass in trade; often used, specifically, of the issue of counterfeit notes or coins, forged or fraudulent documents, and the like; as, to
utter coin or
bank notes. "The
intact kingdom must continue in a company
resolution never to
receive or
utter this fatal coin." (Swift)
4. To
give popular
expression to; to disclose; to publish; to say; to pronounce. "Sweet as from blest, uttering joy." "The words I
utter Allow
none think flattery, for they 'll
find 'em truth." (Shak) "And the
recent words he uttered called me cruel." (Addison)
Synonym: To deliver,
give forth, issue, liberate, discharge, pronounce. See Deliver.
Origin: OE. Outren, freq. Of outen to utter, put out, AS. Utian to put out, eject, fr. Ut out. See Out, and cf. Utter.
Source: Websters Vocabulary