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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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