altogether

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   with everything included or counted

   Altogether they earn close to a million dollars per year.

2. 2
   adv

   with everything considered (and neglecting details)

   altogether, I'm sorry it happened

3. 3
   adv

   Completely, wholly, or without exception.

   Police did not seem altogether satisfied with my alibi.

4. 4
   adv

   On the whole; with everything considered.

   Altogether, I'm sorry it happened.

5. 5
   adv

   With everything included.

   Altogether, your bill comes to $6.99.

6. 6
   adv

   An intensifier: without doubt, clearly.

   It was a great game altogether.

7. 7
   noun

   [(chiefly) with the or in the] A state of nakedness.

   And she objects, too, to the "altogether." Her gowns will never be cut more décolleté than those seen in the boxes of the Metropolitan Opera House of New York city.

8. 8
   adv

   to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (`whole' is often used informally for `wholly')

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.