utter
Please don't utter utter nonsense in the meeting.
The sentence advises against speaking complete nonsense at meetings.
Meanings (pronounced /ˈʌtər/)
to speak or pronounce; to make a sound with the voice
- She didn't utter a word all evening.
- He uttered a low whistle of surprise.
complete; absolute; total
- She listened in utter silence.
- His utter astonishment was clear on his face.
Word origin
From Middle English utter, from Old English ūtor ('outer, more out'), the comparative of ūt ('out'). The two senses are unified: the verb 'to utter' literally means 'to put out (sounds)' — the original Germanic metaphor of speech as ejection of sound from the mouth. The adjective 'utter' (complete, absolute) developed from 'outermost' — 'utter darkness' was originally 'outermost darkness,' i.e., extreme. Both senses descend from the same root meaning 'out, outermost.'
Fun fact
The verb 'utter' (to speak) and the adjective 'utter' (complete) are the same word at root — both come from 'out, outermost.' To utter something is to put it out (out of the mouth); 'utter darkness' was 'outermost darkness,' the extreme extent. The connection is logical once you see the 'out' core, but most English speakers experience them as unrelated.