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out-and-out |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Out \Out\, adv [OE. out ut oute, ute, AS [=u]t, and [=u]te, [=u]tan, fr [=u]t; akin to D. uit, OS [=u]t, G. aus, OHG. [=u]z, Icel. [=u]t, Sw ut Dan. ud Goth. ut Skr. ud [root]198. Cf {About}, {But}, prep., {Carouse}, {Utter}, a.] In its original and strict sense out means from the interior of something beyond the limits or boundary of somethings; in a position or relation which is exterior to something -- opposed to {in} or {into}. The something may be expressed after of from etc (see {Out of}, below); or if not expressed, it is implied; as he is out or he is out of the house, office, business, etc.; he came out or he came out from the ship, meeting, sect, party, etc Out is used in a variety of applications, as: 1. Away abroad; off from home, or from a certain, or a usual, place not in not in a particular, or a usual, place as the proprietor is out his team was taken out ``My shoulder blade is out.'' --Shak. He hath been out (of the country) nine years. --Shak. 2. Beyond the limits of concealment, confinement, privacy, constraint, etc., actual of figurative; hence not in concealment, constraint, etc., in or into a state of freedom, openness, disclosure, publicity, etc.; as the sun shines out he laughed out to be out at the elbows; the secret has leaked out or is out the disease broke out on his face; the book is out Leaves are out and perfect in a month. --Bacon. She has not been out [in general society] very long. --H. James. 3. Beyond the limit of existence, continuance, or supply; to the end completely; hence in or into a condition of extinction, exhaustion, completion; as the fuel, or the fire, has burned out ``Hear me out.'' --Dryden. Deceitiful men shall not live out half their days. --Ps. iv 23. When the butt is out we will drink water. --Shak. 4. Beyond possession, control, or occupation; hence in or into a state of want loss or deprivation; -- used of office, business, property, knowledge, etc.; as the Democrats went out and the Whigs came in he put his money out at interest. ``Land that is out at rack rent.'' --Locke. ``He was out fifty pounds.'' --Bp. Fell. I have forgot my part and I am out --Shak. 5. Beyond the bounds of what is true, reasonable, correct, proper, common, etc.; in error or mistake; in a wrong or incorrect position or opinion; in a state of disagreement, opposition, etc.; in an inharmonious relation. ``Lancelot and I are out.'' --Shak. Wicked men are strangely out in the calculating of their own interest. --South. Very seldom out in these his guesses. --Addison. 6. Not in the position to score in playing a game; not in the state or turn of the play for counting or gaining scores. Note: Out is largely used in composition as a prefix, with the same significations that it has as a separate word as outbound, outbreak, outbuilding, outcome, outdo, outdoor, outfield. See also the first Note under {Over}, adv {Day in day out}, from the beginning to the limit of each of several days; day by day every day {Out and out}. a adv Completely; wholly; openly. b adj Without any reservation or disguise; absolute; as an out and out villain. [As an {adj}. written also {out-and-out}.] {Out at}, {Out in}, {Out on}, etc., elliptical phrases, that to which out refers as a source, origin, etc., being omitted; as out (of the house and) at the barn; out (of the house, road, fields, etc., and) in the woods. Three fishers went sailing out into the west, Out into the west, as the sun went down --C. Kingsley. Note: In these lines after out may be understood, ``of the harbor,'' ``from the shore,'' ``of sight,'' or some similar phrase. The complete construction is seen in the saying: ``Out of the frying pan into the fire.'' {Out from}, a construction similar to {out of} (below). See {Of} and {From}. {Out of}, a phrase which may be considered either as composed of an adverb and a preposition, each having its appropriate office in the sentence, or as a compound preposition. Considered as a preposition, it denotes, with verbs of movement or action from the interior of beyond the limit: from hence origin, source, motive, departure, separation, loss etc.; -- opposed to {in} or {into}; also with verbs of being the state of being derived, removed, or separated from Examples may be found in the phrases below, and also under Vocabulary words as out of breath; out of countenance. {Out of cess}, beyond measure, excessively. --Shak. {Out of character}, unbecoming; improper. {Out of conceit with}, not pleased with See under {Conceit}. {Out of date}, not timely; unfashionable; antiquated. {Out of door}, {Out of doors}, beyond the doors; from the house; in or into the open air; hence figuratively, shut out dismissed. See under {Door}, also {Out-of-door}, {Outdoor}, {Outdoors}, in the Vocabulary. ``He 's quality, and the question's out of door,'' --Dryden. {Out of favor}, disliked; under displeasure. {Out of frame}, not in correct order or condition; irregular; disarranged. --Latimer. {Out of hand}, immediately; without delay or preparation. ``Ananias . . . fell down and died out of hand.'' --Latimer. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: out-and-out adj : complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers; "absolute freedom"; "an absolute dimwit"; "a downright lie"; "out-and-out mayhem"; "an out-and-out lie"; "a rank outsider"; "many right-down vices"; "got the job through sheer persistence"; "sheer stupidity" [syn: {absolute}, {downright}, {out-and-out(a)}, {rank(a)}, {right-down}, {sheer(a)}]
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