Prove all things: hold fast that which is good. --1
Thess. v. 21.
2. Any. [Obs.] ``Without all remedy.'' --Shak.
Note: When the definite article ``the,'' or a possessive or a
demonstrative pronoun, is joined to the noun that all
qualifies, all precedes the article or the pronoun; as,
all the cattle; all my labor; all his wealth; all our
families; all your citizens; all their property; all
other joys.
Note: This word, not only in popular language, but in the
Scriptures, often signifies, indefinitely, a large
portion or number, or a great part. Thus, all the
cattle in Egypt died, all Judea and all the region
round about Jordan, all men held John as a prophet, are
not to be understood in a literal sense, but as
including a large part, or very great numbers.
I was born to speak all mirth and no matter. --Shak.
{All the whole}, the whole (emphatically). [Obs.] ``All the
whole army.'' --Shak.
All they were wondrous loth. --Spenser.
Death, as the Psalmist saith, is certain to all.
--Shak.
All that thou seest is mine. --Gen. xxxi.
43.
Note: All is used with of, like a partitive; as, all of a
thing, all of us.
{After all}, after considering everything to the contrary;
nevertheless.
{All in all}, a phrase which signifies all things to a
person, or everything desired; (also adverbially) wholly;
altogether.
Thou shalt be all in all, and I in thee, Forever.
--Milton.
Trust me not at all, or all in all. --Tennyson.
{All in the wind} (Naut.), a phrase denoting that the sails
are parallel with the course of the wind, so as to shake.
{All told}, all counted; in all.
{And all}, and the rest; and everything connected. ``Bring
our crown and all.'' --Shak.
{At all}.
(a) In every respect; wholly; thoroughly. [Obs.] ``She is a
shrew at al(l).'' --Chaucer.
(b) A phrase much used by way of enforcement or emphasis,
usually in negative or interrogative sentences, and
signifying in any way or respect; in the least degree or
to the least extent; in the least; under any
circumstances; as, he has no ambition at all; has he any
property at all? ``Nothing at all.'' --Shak. ``If thy
father at all miss me.'' --1 Sam. xx. 6.
{Over all}, everywhere. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
Note: All is much used in composition to enlarge the meaning,
or add force to a word. In some instances, it is
completely incorporated into words, and its final
consonant is dropped, as in almighty, already, always:
but, in most instances, it is an adverb prefixed to
adjectives or participles, but usually with a hyphen,
as, all-bountiful, all-glorious, allimportant,
all-surrounding, etc. In others it is an adjective; as,
allpower, all-giver. Anciently many words, as, alabout,
alaground, etc., were compounded with all, which are
now written separately.