Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
Tantamount — Tan ta*mount , a. [F. tant so much (L. tantus) + E. amount.] Equivalent in value, signification, or effect. [1913 Webster] A usage nearly tantamount to constitutional right. Hallam. [1913 Webster] The certainty that delay, under these… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
tantamount — ► ADJECTIVE (tantamount to) ▪ equivalent in seriousness to; virtually the same as. ORIGIN from earlier tantamount «amount to as much», from Italian tanto montare … English terms dictionary
Tantamount — Tan ta*mount , v. i. To be tantamount or equivalent; to amount. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
tantamount — I adjective analogous, comparable, corresponding to, ditto, equal, equivalent, identical, parallel, similar, synonymous II index coequal, comparable (equivalent), equal … Law dictionary
tantamount to — index constructive (inferential), virtual Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
tantamount — 1640s, from verbal phrase tant amount be equivalent (1620s), from Anglo Fr. tant amunter amount to as much (late 13c.), from O.Fr. tant as much (from L. tantus, from tam so ) + amonter amount to, go up (see AMOUNT (Cf. amount)) … Etymology dictionary
tantamount — *same, selfsame, very, identical, identic, equivalent, equal Analogous words: *like, alike, uniform, similar … New Dictionary of Synonyms
tantamount — [adj] same alike, as good as, commensurate, duplicate, equal, equivalent, identical, indistinguishable, like, parallel, same as, selfsame, synonymous, uniform, very; concepts 487,573 Ant. different, opposite, polar, reverse … New thesaurus
tantamount — [tant′ə mount΄] adj. [< Anglo Fr tant amunter, to amount to as much < OFr tant (< L tantus, so much: see TANDEM) + amonter (see AMOUNT)] having equal force, value, effect, etc.; equal or equivalent (to) … English World dictionary
tantamount — tan|ta|mount [ˈtæntəmaunt] adj [Date: 1600 1700; Origin: tantamount something equal in value (1600 1700), from Anglo French tant amunter to amount to as much ] be tantamount to sth if an action, suggestion, plan etc is tantamount to something bad … Dictionary of contemporary English
tantamount — [[t]tæ̱ntəmaʊnt[/t]] ADJ: v link ADJ to n/ ing (emphasis) If you say that one thing is tantamount to a second, more serious thing, you are emphasizing how bad, unacceptable, or unfortunate the first thing is by comparing it to the second.… … English dictionary
