ut·ter¹ / ˈətər/ • adj. complete; absolute: Charles stared at her in utter amazement.DERIVATIVES: ut·ter·ly adv. he looked utterly ridiculous. .ut·ter² • v. [tr.] 1. make (a sound) with one's voice: he uttered an exasperated snort. ∎  say (something) aloud: they are busily scribbling down every word she utters. 2. Law put (forged money) into circulation. ∎  publish, circulate, or deliver to another person (a document or other object).DERIVATIVES: ut·ter·a·ble adj.ut·ter·er n.

utter1 outward, outer OE.; extreme, total XV. OE. ūter(r)a, ūttra, compar. formation (see -ER3) on ūt OUT, corr. to MDu. ūtere (Du. uiter-), OHG. ūzaro (G. äusser).
Hence utterly (-LY2) †plainly, straight out XIII; absolutely, completely XIV. uttermost outermost; utmost. XIV.

utter2 give out audibly, speak, pronounce; †reveal; †put on the market, sell; give currency to (coin, etc.). XIV. — MDu. ūteren (Du. uiteren) drive away, speak, show, make known, MLG. ūtern turn out, sell, speak, demonstrate, with assim. to UTTER1.
Hence utterance¹ †disposal by sale; speaking, speech. XV.

UTTER

To publish or offer; to send into circulation.

The term utter is frequently used in reference to commercial paper. To utter and publish an instrument is to declare, either directly or indirectly through words or action, that it is good. It constitutes a crime, for example, to utter a forged check.