- total
-
I. adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin totalis, from Latin totus whole, entire
Date: 14th century
1. comprising or constituting a whole ; entire <the total amount> 2. absolute, utter <a total failure> <a total stranger> 3. involving a complete and unified effort especially to achieve a desired effect <total war> <total theater> Synonyms: see whole II. noun Date: 1557 1. a product of addition ; sum 2. an entire quantity ; amount III. adverb Date: 1601 totally IV. transitive verb (totaled or totalled; totaling or totalling) Date: 1716 1. to add up ; compute 2. to amount to ; number 3. to make a total wreck of ; demolish; specifically to damage so badly that the cost of repairs exceeds the market value of the vehicle <totaled the car>
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.