full
n. · adv.-
1 the highest degree (n.) C1 Advanced Formalthe greatest possible amount or the highest point of something.
the utmost measure or extent; the state of being completely filled or at its peak.
ExampleShe enjoyed the beauty of the park to the full.
ExampleThe athlete lived his life to the full, embracing every challenge with the same intensity he brought to the stadium.
Usagefrequently appears in the idiomatic phrase 'to the full'.
-
2 completely or very (adv.) C2 Proficiency Archaic Literarycompletely or very much.
to a complete or absolute degree; used as an intensifier.
ExampleHe knew full well that he was making a mistake.
ExampleThe moon shone full upon the valley, illuminating the silver mist that clung to the riverbanks.
Usagemost commonly survives in the modern idiom 'full well'.
From Middle English ful, from Old English full (“full”), from Proto-West Germanic full, from Proto-Germanic fullaz (“full”), from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₁nós (“full”). Germanic cognates include West Frisian fol, Low German vull, Dutch vol, German voll, Danish fuld, and Norwegian and Swedish full (the latter three via Old Norse). Proto-Indo-European cognates include English plenty (via Latin, compare plēnus), Welsh llawn, Russian по́лный (pólnyj), Lithuanian pilnas, Persian پر (por), Sanskrit पूर्ण (pūrṇá). See also fele and Scots fou (whence the English doublet fou (“drunk”)). For the "drunk, intoxicated" sense, compare also Swedish full and other Scandinavian languages.
From Middle English fulle, fylle, fille, from Old English fyllu, fyllo (“fullness, fill, plenty”), from Proto-Germanic fullį̄, fulnō (“fullness, filling, overflow”), from Proto-Indo-European plūno-, plno- (“full”), from pelh₁-, pleh₁- (“to fill; full”). Cognate with German Fülle (“fullness, fill”), Icelandic fylli (“fulness, fill”). More at fill.
From Middle English fullen, fulwen (“to baptise”), from Old English fullian, fulwian (“to baptise”), from full- + wīhan (later wēon (“to make holy”)). Compare Old English fulluht, fulwiht (“baptism”).
From Middle English fullen (“to full”), from Anglo-Norman fuller, fuler, Middle French foller, fouler, from Old French foler, fouler (“to tread, stamp, full”), from Medieval Latin fullāre, from Latin fullō (“a fuller”). Compare Old English fullian (“to full”).