Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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. {Out of harm's way}, beyond the danger limit; in a safe place. {Out of joint}, not in proper connection or adjustment; unhinged; disordered. ``The time is out of joint.'' --Shak. {Out of mind}, not in mind; forgotten; also, beyond the limit of memory; as, time out of mind. {Out of one's head}, beyond commanding one's mental powers; in a wandering state mentally; delirious. [Colloq.] {Out of one's time}, beyond one's period of minority or apprenticeship. {Out of order}, not in proper order; disarranged; in confusion. {Out of place}, not in the usual or proper place; hence, not proper or becoming. {Out of pocket}, in a condition of having expended or lost more money than one has received. {Out of print}, not in market, the edition printed being exhausted; -- said of books, pamphlets, etc. {Out of the question}, beyond the limits or range of consideration; impossible to be favorably considered. {Out of reach}, beyond one's reach; inaccessible. {Out of season}, not in a proper season or time; untimely; inopportune. {Out of sorts}, wanting certain things; unsatisfied; unwell; unhappy; cross. See under {Sort}, n. {Out of temper}, not in good temper; irritated; angry. {Out of time}, not in proper time; too soon, or too late. {Out of time}, not in harmony; discordant; hence, not in an agreeing temper; fretful. {Out of twist}, {winding}, or {wind}, not in warped condition; perfectly plain and smooth; -- said of surfaces. {Out of use}, not in use; unfashionable; obsolete. {Out of the way}. (a) On one side; hard to reach or find; secluded. (b) Improper; unusual; wrong. {Out of the woods}, not in a place, or state, of obscurity or doubt; free from difficulty or perils; safe. [Colloq.] {Out to out}, from one extreme limit to another, including the whole length, breadth, or thickness; -- applied to measurements. {Out West}, in or towards, the West; specifically, in some Western State or Territory. [U. S.] {To come out}, {To cut out}, {To fall out}, etc. See under {Come}, {Cut}, {Fall}, etc. {To put out of the way}, to kill; to destroy. {Week in, week out}. See {Day in, day out} (above).
\Out\, n. 1. One who, or that which, is out; especially, one who is out of office; -- generally in the plural. 2. A place or space outside of something; a nook or corner; an angle projecting outward; an open space; -- chiefly used in the phrase ins and outs; as, the ins and outs of a question. See under {In}. 3. (Print.) A word or words omitted by the compositor in setting up copy; an omission. {To make an out} (Print.), to omit something, in setting or correcting type, which was in the copy.
\Out\, v. t. 1. To cause to be out; to eject; to expel. A king outed from his country. --Selden. The French have been outed of their holds. --Heylin. 2. To come out with; to make known. [Obs.] --Chaucer. 3. To give out; to dispose of; to sell. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
\Out\, v. i. To come or go out; to get out or away; to become public. ``Truth will out.'' --Shak.
\Out\, interj. Expressing impatience, anger, a desire to be rid of; -- with the force of command; go out; begone; away; off. Out, idle words, servants to shallow fools ! --Shak. {Out upon} or {on!} equivalent to ``shame upon!'' ``away with!'' as, out upon you!