altogether

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: A2 — Elementary

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun informal terms for nakedness
  2. adverb to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (`whole' is often used informally for `wholly')
  3. adverb with everything included or counted

Etymology

From Middle English altogeder, altogedere, equivalent to al- (“all”) + together. Cognate with Scots awthegither (“altogether”), Middle High German alzegater (“altogether”), Dutch altegaar. Compare also Old English ealġeador, eallġeador (“altogether”), West Frisian allegearre (“altogether”). More at together. The noun sense (nakedness): was popularized in George du Maurier's 1894 novel Trilby.

In classic literature

Synonyms

raw, birthday suit

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