different between altogether vs entirely

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

Alternative forms

• entierly (chiefly archaic)
• intirely (archaic or nonstandard)

Etymology

From Middle English entyerly, entierly, enterely, entyreliche, equivalent to entire +? -ly.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?n?ta??li/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?n?ta??li/
• Hyphenation: en?tire?ly

Adverb

entirely (not comparable)

1. To the full or entire extent.
2. To the exclusion of others.

Synonyms

• (to the full extent): completely, wholly; see also Thesaurus:completely
• (to the exclusion of others): solely, wholly; see also Thesaurus:solely

Related terms

• entirety

Translations

Anagrams

• entierly, lientery