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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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Fall \Fall\ (f[add]l), v. i. [imp. Fell (f[e^]l); p. p.
Fallen (f[add]l"'n); p. pr. & vb. n. Falling.] [AS.
feallan; akin to D. vallen, OS. & OHG. fallan, G. fallen,
Icel. Falla, Sw. falla, Dan. falde, Lith. pulti, L. fallere
to deceive, Gr. sfa`llein to cause to fall, Skr. sphal,
sphul, to tremble. Cf. Fail, Fell, v. t., to cause to
fall.]
1. To Descend, either suddenly or gradually; particularly, to
descend by the force of gravity; to drop; to sink; as, the
apple falls; the tide falls; the mercury falls in the
barometer.
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I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. --Luke
x. 18.
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2. To cease to be erect; to take suddenly a recumbent
posture; to become prostrate; to drop; as, a child totters
and falls; a tree falls; a worshiper falls on his knees.
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I fell at his feet to worship him. --Rev. xix.
10.
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3. To find a final outlet; to discharge its waters; to empty;
-- with into; as, the river Rhone falls into the
Mediterranean.
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4. To become prostrate and dead; to die; especially, to die
by violence, as in battle.
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A thousand shall fall at thy side. --Ps. xci. 7.
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He rushed into the field, and, foremost fighting,
fell. --Byron.
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5. To cease to be active or strong; to die away; to lose
strength; to subside; to become less intense; as, the wind
falls.
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6. To issue forth into life; to be brought forth; -- said of
the young of certain animals. --Shak.
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7. To decline in power, glory, wealth, or importance; to
become insignificant; to lose rank or position; to decline
in weight, value, price etc.; to become less; as, the
price falls; stocks fell two points.
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I am a poor fallen man, unworthy now
To be thy lord and master. --Shak.
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The greatness of these Irish lords suddenly fell and
vanished. --Sir J.
Davies.
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8. To be overthrown or captured; to be destroyed.
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Heaven and earth will witness,
If Rome must fall, that we are innocent. --Addison.
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9. To descend in character or reputation; to become degraded;
to sink into vice, error, or sin; to depart from the
faith; to apostatize; to sin.
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Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest
any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
--Heb. iv. 11.
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10. To become insnared or embarrassed; to be entrapped; to be
worse off than before; as, to fall into error; to fall
into difficulties.
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11. To assume a look of shame or disappointment; to become or
appear dejected; -- said of the countenance.
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Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
--Gen. iv. 5.
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I have observed of late thy looks are fallen.
--Addison.
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12. To sink; to languish; to become feeble or faint; as, our
spirits rise and fall with our fortunes.
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13. To pass somewhat suddenly, and passively, into a new
state of body or mind; to become; as, to fall asleep; to
fall into a passion; to fall in love; to fall into
temptation.
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14. To happen; to to come to pass; to light; to befall; to
issue; to terminate.
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The Romans fell on this model by chance. --Swift.
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Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the
matter will fall. --Ruth. iii.
18.
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They do not make laws, they fall into customs. --H.
Spencer.
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15. To come; to occur; to arrive.
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The vernal equinox, which at the Nicene Council
fell on the 21st of March, falls now [1694] about
ten days sooner. --Holder.
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16. To begin with haste, ardor, or vehemence; to rush or
hurry; as, they fell to blows.
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They now no longer doubted, but fell to work heart
and soul. --Jowett
(Thucyd. ).
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17. To pass or be transferred by chance, lot, distribution,
inheritance, or otherwise; as, the estate fell to his
brother; the kingdom fell into the hands of his rivals.
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18. To belong or appertain.
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If to her share some female errors fall,
Look on her face, and you'll forget them all.
--Pope.
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19. To be dropped or uttered carelessly; as, an unguarded
expression fell from his lips; not a murmur fell from
him.
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To fall abroad of (Naut.), to strike against; -- applied to
one vessel coming into collision with another.
To fall among, to come among accidentally or unexpectedly.
To fall astern (Naut.), to move or be driven backward; to
be left behind; as, a ship falls astern by the force of a
current, or when outsailed by another.
To fall away.
(a) To lose flesh; to become lean or emaciated; to pine.
(b) To renounce or desert allegiance; to revolt or rebel.
(c) To renounce or desert the faith; to apostatize.
"These . . . for a while believe, and in time of
temptation fall away." --Luke viii. 13.
(d) To perish; to vanish; to be lost. "How . . . can the
soul . . . fall away into nothing?" --Addison.
(e) To decline gradually; to fade; to languish, or become
faint. "One color falls away by just degrees, and
another rises insensibly." --Addison.
To fall back.
(a) To recede or retreat; to give way.
(b) To fail of performing a promise or purpose; not to
fulfill.
To fall back upon or To fall back on.
(a) (Mil.) To retreat for safety to (a stronger position
in the rear, as to a fort or a supporting body of
troops).
(b) To have recourse to (a reserved fund, a more reliable
alternative, or some other available expedient or
support).
To fall calm, to cease to blow; to become calm.
To fall down.
(a) To prostrate one's self in worship. "All kings shall
fall down before him." --Ps. lxxii. 11.
(b) To sink; to come to the ground. "Down fell the
beauteous youth." --Dryden.
(c) To bend or bow, as a suppliant.
(d) (Naut.) To sail or drift toward the mouth of a river
or other outlet.
To fall flat, to produce no response or result; to fail of
the intended effect; as, his speech fell flat.
To fall foul of.
(a) (Naut.) To have a collision with; to become entangled
with
(b) To attack; to make an assault upon.
To fall from, to recede or depart from; not to adhere to;
as, to fall from an agreement or engagement; to fall from
allegiance or duty.
To fall from grace (M. E. Ch.), to sin; to withdraw from
the faith.
To fall home (Ship Carp.), to curve inward; -- said of the
timbers or upper parts of a ship's side which are much
within a perpendicular.
To fall in.
(a) To sink inwards; as, the roof fell in.
(b) (Mil.) To take one's proper or assigned place in
line; as, to fall in on the right.
(c) To come to an end; to terminate; to lapse; as, on the
death of Mr. B., the annuuity, which he had so long
received, fell in.
(d) To become operative. "The reversion, to which he had
been nominated twenty years before, fell in."
--Macaulay.
To fall into one's hands, to pass, often suddenly or
unexpectedly, into one's ownership or control; as, to
spike cannon when they are likely to fall into the hands
of the enemy.
To fall in with.
(a) To meet with accidentally; as, to fall in with a
friend.
(b) (Naut.) To meet, as a ship; also, to discover or come
near, as land.
(c) To concur with; to agree with; as, the measure falls
in with popular opinion.
(d) To comply; to yield to. "You will find it difficult
to persuade learned men to fall in with your
projects." --Addison.
To fall off.
(a) To drop; as, fruits fall off when ripe.
(b) To withdraw; to separate; to become detached; as,
friends fall off in adversity. "Love cools,
friendship falls off, brothers divide." --Shak.
(c) To perish; to die away; as, words fall off by disuse.
(d) To apostatize; to forsake; to withdraw from the
faith, or from allegiance or duty.
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Those captive tribes . . . fell off
From God to worship calves. --Milton.
(e) To forsake; to abandon; as, his customers fell off.
(f) To depreciate; to change for the worse; to
deteriorate; to become less valuable, abundant, or
interesting; as, a falling off in the wheat crop; the
magazine or the review falls off. "O Hamlet, what a
falling off was there!" --Shak.
(g) (Naut.) To deviate or trend to the leeward of the
point to which the head of the ship was before
directed; to fall to leeward.
To fall on.
(a) To meet with; to light upon; as, we have fallen on
evil days.
(b) To begin suddenly and eagerly. "Fall on, and try the
appetite to eat." --Dryden.
(c) To begin an attack; to assault; to assail. "Fall on,
fall on, and hear him not." --Dryden.
(d) To drop on; to descend on.
To fall out.
(a) To quarrel; to begin to contend.
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A soul exasperated in ills falls out
With everything, its friend, itself. --Addison.
(b) To happen; to befall; to chance. "There fell out a
bloody quarrel betwixt the frogs and the mice."
--L'Estrange.
(c) (Mil.) To leave the ranks, as a soldier.
To fall over.
(a) To revolt; to desert from one side to another.
(b) To fall beyond. --Shak.
To fall short, to be deficient; as, the corn falls short;
they all fall short in duty.
To fall through, to come to nothing; to fail; as, the
engageent has fallen through.
To fall to, to begin. "Fall to, with eager joy, on homely
food." --Dryden.
To fall under.
(a) To come under, or within the limits of; to be
subjected to; as, they fell under the jurisdiction of
the emperor.
(b) To come under; to become the subject of; as, this
point did not fall under the cognizance or
deliberations of the court; these things do not fall
under human sight or observation.
(c) To come within; to be ranged or reckoned with; to be
subordinate to in the way of classification; as,
these substances fall under a different class or
order.
To fall upon.
(a) To attack. [See To fall on.]
(b) To attempt; to have recourse to. "I do not intend to
fall upon nice disquisitions." --Holder.
(c) To rush against.
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Note: Fall primarily denotes descending motion, either in a
perpendicular or inclined direction, and, in most of
its applications, implies, literally or figuratively,
velocity, haste, suddenness, or violence. Its use is so
various, and so mush diversified by modifying words,
that it is not easy to enumerate its senses in all its
applications.
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