together, adv. (prep., n., and a.)
(təˈgɛðə(r))
Forms (in most cases either as one word or two, or in mod. edd. of OE. and ME. with hyphen): α. 1 togædere (to gædere, to-gædere), togadore, 3–4 togadere, togare, (3 to gaddre, to gaderen, 4 to gadir); 7 togather. β. 2–5 togedere, 3 (Orm.) togeddre, 4 to gedder, Sc. to geidir, 4–5 togeder, togedre, 4–6 togedir, 5 togedur, togedyr, to gedire, (to geyder, to gheder); 4–5 to gethir, 6 togeather, 7 togeither, 5– together. γ. 3–5 togider (6 Sc.), togydere, (3 to giddre, 4 to gidir), 4–5 togidere, togidre, 4–6 togyder, togiddir, (5 -yr), 4, 5–7 Sc. togidder, 5 to gidur, to gydre, togyddyr, 6 togydur, to gydder (Sc. -ir), toguyder; 4 togiþer, 6 togyther, toguyther, Sc. togithir, 6 (9 dial.) togither; Sc. 6 þe gidder, 8–9 thegither.
[OE. tógædere, tógadore, f. to prep. + gædre adv.:—*gaduri, orig. locative or instr. of *gador, -ur, OE. geador ‘together’, whence also gaderian, later gæderian to gather, q.v. So OFris. togadera, -ere, MDu. te gader(e, Du. tegader ‘together’, MLG. gader, MG. gater ‘together’, f. same root as OE. gæd companionship, fellowship, union, ᵹegada companion, associate, Du. gade, MDu. ghegade companion, comrade, consort, mate. OE. had, beside tógædre, of motion or direction, a parallel compound ætgædere, of position. The derivatives of gad- appear only in the Saxon-Frisian or LG. group of WGer., OHG. substituting zi-samane, Ger. zusammen: see samen; and cf. gather, good. ME. had forms in -gader and -geder, which in North. ME. and Sc. became -gidir. In the 14th c. the d or dd began to change to (ð) written th: cf. gather, father.]
A. adv.
1. a. Into one gathering, company, mass, or body.
| 707 Charter of Ine of Wessex in Birch Cart. Sax. I. 149 Andlang Icenan þer Cendefer and Icene cumað to gædere; andlang Cendefer þer hit ær upeode. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xv. 10 And he þa ðam meneᵹum to-gædere ᵹeclypedum þus cwæð. c 1200 Ormin 1485, & gaddresst swa þe clene corn All fra þe chaff to geddre. a 1300 Cursor M. 2515 (Cott.) He did togeder samen his men. c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 824 Vp roos oure hoost..And gadrede vs togidre alle in a flok. 1482 Monk of Evesham (Arb.) 22 Than all the brethirne came to gedyr in to the chaptur hows. a 1547 Surrey æneid ii. (1557) D iij, A rout exiled, a wreched multitude, From eche where flockke together. 1552–3 Inv. Ch. Goods, Staffs. in Ann. Lichfield IV. 6 On other grett bell..to call the parishonars to geather. 1611 Bible 1 Cor. xiv. 23 If therefore the whole Church be come together into one place. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. iii, My next care was to get together the wrecks of my fortune. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xxxii, Laying a' this thegither. |
b. Of two persons or things: Into companionship, union, proximity, contact, or collision.
| a 900 Andreas 1437 Heofon & eorðe hreosaþ togadore. 1154 O.E. Chron. an. 1135, & hi to gædere comen & wurðe sæhte. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 8996 Hii were to gadere icome þis bataile to do. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 442 God and iche membre of his Chirche bene weddid togedre. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 142 Brynge þe parties togidere of þe wounde & sowe hem. 1549 Compl. Scot. vi. 66 The rammis raschit there heydis to gyddir. 1600 Holland Livy vi. xii. 224 When you see the battailes buckle together pell mell, and come to handstrokes. 1610 Shakes. Temp. i. ii. 461 Ile manacle thy necke and feete together. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 194 To contain..both the Cheeks when they are shut together. a 1704 [see add v. 4]. 1850 Tait's Mag. XVII. 498/1 Our last extract tells how Dr. Chalmers and Edward Irving came together. 1894 H. Drummond Ascent of Man 251 Two flints struck together yielded fire. |
2. a. In one assembly, company, or body; in one place. (Not in
OE., which used
æt-gædere.)
| c 1220 Bestiary 369 in O.E. Misc. 12 Ðis wune he hauen hem bi-twen, Ðoȝ he an hundred to giddre ben. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1897 So riche were growen hise sunen, Ðat he ne miȝte to gider wunen. 1382 Wyclif John xxi. 2 Ther weren to gidere Symount Petre, and Thomas, that is seid Didymus, and Nathanael [etc.]. c 1400 Mandeville (1839) xxiii. 247 Here wyfes ne dwelle not to gydere, but euery of hem be hire self. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 1 All christians gooth this pilgrymage all togyder in one company. 1607–12 Bacon Ess., Counsel (Arb.) 324 If they take the opinions of theire Councell, both seperately, and togither. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones xviii. v, Shall we take a hackney coach, and all of us together pay a visit to your friend? 1826 J. Wilson Noct. Ambr. Wks. 1855 I. 244 We'll a' get fou thegither. |
b. Of two persons or things: In each other's company; in union or contact.
| c 1315 Shoreham i. 1912–8 Þe sibbe mowe to gadere nauȝt Þe foerþe grees wyþ-inne..And ȝef oþer þe fifte of-takeþ, To⁓gare moȝe hy dwelle. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xviii. 22 Loue and leel by-leuye heeld lyf and soule to-gedere. a 1425 Cursor M. 10571 (Laud) Sone after to-gethir [Cott. samen] they lay. 1483 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 241/1 The said King Edward,..and the seid Elizabeth, lived together sinfully..in adultery. 1596 Spenser F.Q. vi. ii. 16 He and I together roade Upon our way. c 1645 Howell Lett. (1650) II. 113 You and I have eaten a great deal of salt together. 1726 in W. Wing Ann. Steeple Aston (1875) 54 Two lands lye together at Drywell. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair xxix, She gave George the queerest, knowingest look, when they were together. |
c. In ideal combination; considered collectively; added or summed up. (
Cf. put v. 54 e.)
| 1796 Macneill Will & Jean iii. i, What this warld is a' thegither, If bereft o' honest fame! 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. v. I. 645 Jeffreys boasted that he had hanged more traitors than all his predecessors together since the Conquest. |
d. pred. † (
a) In agreement, consonant (
obs.); (
b) Courting, or mutually engaged, as lovers.
| 1502 Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) i. ii. 11 It be⁓houeth that the wordes & the doynge..be holly in ony wyse togyder. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones vi. ii, She..knew better than anybody who and who were together. |
e. Used expletively in addressing a number of persons.
dial. (
E. Anglia).
| a 1825 Forby Voc. E. Anglia, Together,..used in familiarly addressing a number of persons collectively. Ex. ‘Well, together, how are ye all?’ 1859 N. & Q. 1st Ser. II. 217/2 Where are you going together? (meaning several persons). What are you doing together? 1866 J. G. Nall Gt. Yarmouth & Lowestoft 517 It has been wittily observed, that..‘together’ is [the] plural [of ‘bor’] [a single person, male or female, being addressed as bor or ‘bo’, two or more persons as ‘together’]. |
f. Colloq. phr. (all) girls together: see
girl n. 2
f. 3. In reference to a single thing.
a. With union or combination of parts or elements; into or in a condition of unity; so as to form a connected whole.
to pull, shake oneself together: see the verbs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 550 (Cott.) Of þir things..was adam cors to gedir graid. Ibid. 582 Now haf i sceud yow til hider, How tua thinges halds man to gider. 1521 Fisher Serm. agst. Luther Wks. (1876) 324 Euery vertue that is gadred togyder is more stronger. 1562 Turner Herbal ii. 2 As runnynge or chese-lope maketh mylke runne together into cruddes. 1581 Lambarde Eiren. ii. ii. (1588) 109 It standeth not well togither, that he should become bound to the Prince in x or xx pounds. 1652 Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. 161 The matter hang's well together, if wee say [etc.]. 1832 Examiner 562/1 While society holds together, while life and property are..secure. |
b. After such verbs as
fold,
roll, etc.: Of different parts (sides, ends, etc.): Into or in contact or junction, so as to form a compact body.
| 1480 [see fold v.1 1]. 1526 [see roll v.2 8]. 1578 Lyte Dodoens iv. vi. 552 His leaues be..crompled, and drawen togither or curled. 1637 Rutherford Lett. i. cxli. (1664) 279 Ye..shall one day see God take the heavens in his hands and fold them together like an old holly garment. |
4. At the same time, at once, simultaneously. (Usually connoting ‘in combination or association’.)
| c 1200 Vices & Virt. 35 Ðe hali apostel namneð ðese þrie haliȝe mihtes to gedere. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints ii. (Paulus) 806 Þat he [Nero] mycht stand his towr in, And se all to⁓geidir byrne. 1508 Fisher Penit. Ps. xxxii. Wks. (1876) 33, I shall knowlege togyder all my synnes. 1610 Healey Vives' Comm. St. Aug. Citie of God xi. ix. 416 Basil and Dionysius, and almost all the Latines..hold that God made althings together. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. iii. iii. §4 We cannot believe that and the Scriptures to be true together. 1746 Francis tr. Horace, Epist. ii. ii. 270 If Death..must mow Down Great and Small together at a Blow. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. iv. I. 469 James found that the two things which he most desired could not be possessed together. |
5. Without intermission, continuously, consecutively, uninterruptedly, ‘running’, ‘on end’. (In reference to time, less commonly to space.)
| c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 280/73 In þe Cite of tolouse ten ȝer to gadere he was. 1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye 29 Where the soulle was..sore tormented longe tyme togidre. 1580 E. Campion in Allen Martyrd. (1908) 21 Tarying for wind four daies together. 1615 W. Lawson Country Housew. Gard. (1626) 8 Trees cannot beare fruit plentifully two yeeres together. 1630 R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 44 That wall of China,..was continued and fortified for six hundred miles together. 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 124 Forests..on Fire two or three Miles together. 1840 Gresley Siege Lichf. 242 He..never slept twice together in the same apartment. 1856 F. E. Paget Owlet Owlst. 148 Her back aches..if she sits up for long together. |
6. In concert or co-operation; with unity of action; unitedly; conjointly.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 17351 (Cott.) Eftir þair sabat þai badd togedir, Þat [etc.]. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 7 Þe Scottes & þe Peihtes togider gan þei cheue, To waste alle Northumberland. 1474 Caxton Chesse ii. i, Birdes of whom the male and female haue to gyder the charge in kepynge and norisshinge of their yonge fowlis. 1538 Starkey England i. i. 9 Conspyryng togydur in al vertue and honesty. 1807 Wordsw. Alice Fell viii, Together we released the Cloak. 1891 Law Times Rep. LXIII. 776/1 The contract and the label together constituted a written warranty within the meaning of the..section. |
7. a. In the way of, into, or in mutual action (friendly or hostile); with or against each other; mutually, reciprocally.
† In
quot. 1523 in reference to distance:
= of each other.
| c 1350 Will. Palerne 1011 Þan eiþer hent oþer hastely in armes, & wiþ kene kosses kuþþed hem to gidere. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. Prol. 46 Pilgrymes and palmers pliȝted hem togidere. a 1400 Hylton Scala Perf. (W. de W. 1494) i. li, This is my biddynge that ye loue you togyder as I loued you. c 1400 Laud Troy Bk. 9244 With swerdes gode..Fauȝt thei to-gedur. 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 68 Why it is that tresour and Science may not accorde to gider. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. xl. 55 They were within two leages toguyther. 1561 T. Hoby tr. Castiglione's Courtyer ii. (1577) L vj b, Which..(as you knowe) are enimies togyther. 1686 tr. Chardin's Coronat. Solyman 107 He resolv'd to set the King's two Chief Eunuchs..together by the ears. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. x, I could perceive..my wife and daughters in close conference together. 1855 Lynch Rivulet xcvi. i, Yet sometimes, and in the sunniest weather, My work and I have fallen out together. |
† b. After a
trans. verb:
= each other.
Obs.| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 4863 [Men] þat syþen han loued to gedre wel. 1483 Vulgaria abs Terentio 7 b, Scolers shulde loue to gyder lyke as thei were bredyr. 1525 Ld. Berners Froiss. II. cxxviii. [cxxiv.] 364 When they mete, and haue nat sene toguyder longe before. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VIII 200 After this day, the kyng and she neuer saw together. |
† c. well together or
ill together: agreeing well or ill; friendly or unfriendly.
Obs.| 1741 Chesterfield Lett. 30 May, I believe we are yet well enough together for you to be glad to hear of my safe arrival. 1765 Ibid., Probably that is the Cause of their being so ill together. 1766 Ibid. 11 July, From the interview at Torgaw,..they will be either a great deal better or worse together. |
d. After
multiply: By or into one another.
Cf. add together (1 b).
| 1709, 1885 [see multiply v. 5 b]. 1894 Act 57 & 58 Vict. c. 60 Sch. 2 (3) The contents of the shaft trunk shall be ascertained by multiplying together the mean length, breadth, and depth of the trunk, and dividing the product by 100. |
e. After
belong: To one another; hence, to one or the same whole, company, or set.
Cf. to hang together in 3.
| 1897 A. Lang Bk. Dreams & Ghosts i. 20 The two fragments, which you have published separately..belong together. 1908 Expositor Apr. 335 The whole is too closely connected and must, therefore, belong together. |
8. together with (in various senses): Along with; in combination with, in addition to, or with the addition of; in company or co-operation with; at the same time as, simultaneously with.
| 1478 Exch. Rolls Scotl. VIII. 603 note, For his servandis mete, togiddir with his horse luveraye. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 49 With a schip read, or hartsum hauining place, togithir with grene Cnowis upon the seysyde. 1608 Topsell Serpents (1658) 655 The labouring, that is the male Wasps, together with Autumn, make an end of their days. 1641 J. Jackson True Evang. T. ii. 120 Simon..entred Persia, together with Thaddeus. 1664 South Serm. (1697) II. ii. 69 He..never weighs the Sin, but together with it He weighs the force of the Inducement. 1686 tr. Chardin's Trav. Persia 21 The Gains and Advantages of a Constantinopolitan Embassie, together with the Splendor and Authority that belongs to it. 1858 Penny Cycl. XI. 41/1 The former principality of Haliczia or Galiczia, which, together with a considerable portion of Red Russia, once formed part of Hungary. |
† 9. Together with this; in addition, besides, at the same time, moreover.
Obs. rare.
| a 1648 Ld. Herbert Hen. VIII (1683) 147 This New invention of printing..as it had brought in and restored Books and Learning, so together it hath been the Occasion of those Sects and Schisms, which daily appeared in the World. Ibid. 236 The King understanding this, and together finding that their Numbers and Power did daily increase, advis'd to raise Forces. |
† 10. In nonce-combinations (chiefly with a
vbl. n. or agent-n.), after L.
con- or
co-: as
together-binding,
together-healing,
together-speaking (
= colloquy, conversation),
together-words (
= context),
together-worker (
= co-worker, collaborator).
Obs.| 1382–8 Wyclif Gospels (K.O. I. 141), The *togidere bindingus. |
| 1597 A. M. tr. Guillemeau's Fr. Chirurg. 45 b/2 The combinatione or *together healinge is hindered. |
| c 1425 St. Mary of Oignies ii. iv. in Anglia VIII. 163/12 Yuel *togedir-spekynges harmeþ good maners. Ibid. viii. 173/22 Homely and often togedir-spekynge of seyntes. |
| c 1449 Pecock Repr. iii. ii. (Rolls) 283 The ful hool riȝt is expressid in these *to gidere wordis ‘Ȝeue to the dekenis citees forto dwelle in hem’. |
| 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 151 That the Apostles were *together workers with God: yet that those same together workemen should be hyred to worke in this Vyneard. |
† B. prep. Along with, in addition to, with the addition of, with.
Obs. rare.
| 1556 Aurelio & Isab. (1608) E iv, Withe suttell communications unto their maedens, to gether a thousande written thinges that you fynde. 1583 T. Stocker Civ. Warres Lowe C. iv. 44 The Lordes Liutenauntes..together all Magistrates and Chief Officers..shall be bounde to promise to obserue..this vnion. 1657 R. Ligon Barbadoes 25 You shall finde..the worth and value of it, together the whole processe of the great work of Sugar-making. |
C. as
n. Condition of being together, union; togetherness.
nonce-use.
| 1880 G. Meredith Tragic Com. (1881) 271 In their secrecy: in the close and boundless together of clasped hands. |
D. adj. a. Fashionable, up-to-date; hence used as a general term of commendation.
slang.| 1968 Daily Mirror 27 Aug. 7/5 No finer honour can be bestowed on a man down the King's Road than to be called a together cat. 1970 E. Bullins Theme is Blackness (1973) 176 Honey, with the right clothes and a together front I'd be a knockout. 1971 Jamaican Weekly Gleaner 3 Nov. 5/1, I read in the Miami Herald that conditions in the women's jails [are] not so together. |
b. Composed, self-assured; free of emotional difficulties or inhibitions.
colloq.| 1969 Fabian & Byrne Groupie ii. 19, I reckoned it was no good putting on a together image if you were all screwed up inside. 1971 New Yorker 18 Dec. 31 A young lady of twenty-two who's been through what Twiggy has been through has got to be a very together person to survive. 1974 A. Lurie War between Tates (1977) iii. 67, I forgot you, and me, and where I was—I felt very calm, very together. 1977 O.D. No. 3. 13/3 All free festivals dream of a together stage manager—try your best to get one, as on the day it's all up to him. 1978 I. M. Gaskin Spiritual Midwifery (rev. ed.) i. 41, I knew William was together enough to be there through the whole birthing and I was really excited that he was going to get to see such a heavy thing as a birth. 1979 Amat. Photographer 10 Jan. 67 (caption) Biddy and Eve—a very together cabaret act. 1983 Times 25 Mar. 13/3 An amateur flute player, well groomed and articulate, she looks a very together young woman. |
Hence
toˈgetherhood (
nonce-wd.)
= togetherness;
† toˈgetherward,
-wards adv., towards each other, together.
| 1896 Mary C. Clarke Long Life 194 The most exquisite precision of tune, the most perfect *togetherhood in beginning and ending phrases. |
| c 1205 Lay. 9869 *To-gædereward heo uusden alswa heo wolden fehten. 1530 Palsgr. Introd. 17 They bryng theyr chawes togetherwardes agayne. a 1553 Udall Royster D. iv. ii. (Arb.) 60 Now I shrew their best Christmasse chekes both together⁓ward. c 1630 Sanderson Serm. (1681) II. 253 We shall not now stand so much upon any nice distinguishing of the terms, but take them together⁓ward. |