without

Meanings

1. 1
   prep

   lacking something

   They had to eat without cutlery.

2. 2
   adv

   outside of something

   I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.

3. 3
   adv

   Outside, externally.

   And as each and all of them were warmed without by the sun, so each had a private little sun for her soul to bask in; some dream, some affection, some hobby, at least some remote and distant hope which, though perhaps starving to nothing, still lived on, as hopes will.

4. 4
   adv

   Lacking something; failing.

   Being from a large, poor family, he learned to live without.

5. 5
   adv

   Without a condom being worn.

   “What's within reason?” “Hand-job, blow-job, full sex — straight, full service. Greek, maybe, if you're not too big. Golden shower, if you like, but not reverse. No hardsports. And absolutely nothing without.”

6. 6
   prep

   Outside of, beyond.

   MACBETH: There's blood upon your face. FIRST MURDERER: 'Tis Banquo's then. MACBETH: 'Tis better thee without than he within.

7. 7
   prep

   Not having, containing, characteristic of, etc.

   It was a mistake to leave my house without a coat.

8. 8
   prep

   Not doing or not having done something.

   He likes to eat everything without sharing.

Etymology

From Middle English withoute, withouten, from Old English wiþūtan (literally “against the outside of”). Compare Dutch buiten (“outside of, without”), Danish uden (“without”), Swedish utan (“without”), Norwegian uten (“without”). By surface analysis, with- + out. Superseded non-native Middle English sauns, sans (“without”), from Old French sans, sanz, senz (“without”). Compare typologically Proto-Slavic *bez (“without”) (<+ Proto-Indo-European *h₁éǵʰs (“out”)).