different between altogether vs absolutely

English

Etymology

From Middle English altogeder, altogedere, equivalent to al- (“all”) +? together. Cognate with Scots awthegither (“altogether”), Middle High German alzegater (“altogether”). Compare also Old English eal?eador, eall?eador (“altogether”), West Frisian allegearre (“altogether”). More at together.

The noun sense (nakedness): was popularized in George du Maurier's 1894 novel Trilby.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /??l.t????ð.?(?)/, /??.tu????ð.?(?)/, /??lt????ð?/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?l.tu???ð.?/
• Rhymes: -?ð?(r)

Adverb

altogether (not comparable)

1. Completely, wholly, or without exception.
   • 1891, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, "The Adventure of the Copper Beeches,"

     Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:completely

2. On the whole; with everything considered.

   Synonyms: all in all; see also Thesaurus:mostly

3. With everything included

   Altogether, your bill comes to $6.99.

Usage notes

“Altogether” and “all together” do not mean the same thing. The one-word term is used to mean “wholly, completely, in total”, whereas the two-word term is used to mean "as a group, in the same place”, etc.

Translations

Noun

altogether (plural altogethers)

1. (colloquial, usually with the) A state of nakedness. (Especially in the phrase in the altogether)
   • 1930 Aug. 4, "Prix de Rome," Time:

     Hearing that his wife was posing in the altogether for the great Spanish satirist, the Duke of Alba swore that he would paint Goya's picture in Goya's blood.

   • 2004 Nov. 25, David Carr, "When a TV Talking Head Becomes a Talking Body," New York Times (retrieved 16 Sep 2008):

     Last week, a Cleveland news anchor, Sharon Reed, was caught on camera stripping nude and joining a gaggle of other people in the altogether.

English

Etymology

absolute +? -ly, from Middle English.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /æb.s??l(j)u?t.l?/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?æb.s??lut.li/, /?æb.s??lut.li/

Adverb

absolutely (not comparable)

1. In an absolute or unconditional manner; utterly, positively, wholly. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]
2. Independently; viewed without relation to other things or factors. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]
3. (grammar) In a manner that does not take an object.

Usage notes

• Absolutely is not to be confused with intensives such as very or indeed, as it is an unconditional term, absolutely/*very essential, vital or crucial.

Synonyms

• (in an absolute or unconditional manner): See also Thesaurus:completely
• (viewed without relation to other things): See also Thesaurus:individually

Translations

Interjection

absolutely

1. Yes; certainly; expression indicating strong agreement. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]

Usage notes

• Some commentators, especially in England, criticise the interjectional use as having no useful meaning beyond that of yes; however, this assumes that emphasis is useless, which, pragmatically speaking, it isn’t.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• absitively posolutely

References