from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Out \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:
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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.
Opposite of {in}. "My shoulder blade is out." --Shak.
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He hath been out (of the country) nine years.
--Shak.
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2. Beyond the limits of concealment, confinement, privacy,
constraint, etc., actual or figurative; hence, not in
concealment, constraint, etc., in, or into, a state of
freedom, openness, disclosure, publicity, etc.; a matter
of public knowledge; 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.
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Leaves are out and perfect in a month. --Bacon.
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She has not been out [in general society] very long.
--H. James.
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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; that style is on the way out. "Hear
me out." --Dryden.
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Deceitful men shall not live out half their days.
--Ps. iv. 23.
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When the butt is out, we will drink water. --Shak.
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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.
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I have forgot my part, and I am out. --Shak.
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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.
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Wicked men are strangely out in the calculating of
their own interest. --South.
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Very seldom out, in these his guesses. --Addison.
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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.
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7. Out of fashion; unfashionable; no longer in current vogue;
unpopular.
[PJC]
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.
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{Day in, day out}, from the beginning to the limit of each of
several days; day by day; every day.
{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; not inside a building; 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;
without hesitation or debate; as, to dismiss a suggestion
out of hand. "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}, {Out of winding}, or {Out of 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 make out} See {to make out} under {make}, v. t. and v.
i..
{To put out of the way}, to kill; to destroy.
{Week in, week out}. See {Day in, day out} (above).
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