Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
deliver en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /dɪˈlɪv.ə(ɹ)/ (Australia, Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈɖɛlɪvə(r)/ (South-Asia)
- /dɪˈlɪv.ɚ/ (Canada, General-American)
Etymology
From Middle English deliveren, from Anglo-Norman and Old French delivrer, from Latin dē + līberō (“to set free”).
Compare typologically dispatch, analyzable as dis- + impeach, from Latin impedicō (also akin to impede).
Meanings
-
(rare) Capable, agile, or active.
"More skillful!" interrupted the host. "He is the most deliver at that exercise I have ever set eyes on."
1887, William Minto, The Mediation of Ralph Hardelot:Therefore my policy and advice shall be this: That about the dead time of the night, when our enemies be most quiet at rest, there shall issue from us a number of the most deliverest soldiers to assault their camp; who shall give the assault right secretly, even directly against the entry of the camp, which is almost invincible.
1562, George Cavendish, The Life of Cardinal Wolsey:
Forms
deliver en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /dɪˈlɪv.ə(ɹ)/ (Australia, Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈɖɛlɪvə(r)/ (South-Asia)
- /dɪˈlɪv.ɚ/ (Canada, General-American)
Etymology
From Middle English deliveren, from Anglo-Norman and Old French delivrer, from Latin dē + līberō (“to set free”).
Compare typologically dispatch, analyzable as dis- + impeach, from Latin impedicō (also akin to impede).
Meanings
-
To set free from restraint or danger.
The hostage was delivered from her captors and thus preserved from any danger.
-
(qualifier:process) Senses having to do with birth. ▸ To assist in the birth of.
the doctor delivered the baby
-
(formal, qualifier:process, with "of") Senses having to do with birth. ▸ To assist (a female) in bearing, that is, in bringing forth (a child).
Sche was delivered sauf and sone
the doctor is expected to deliver her of a daughter tomorrow
the duchess was delivered of a son
The queen has already been delivered, and is presenting her daughter to several goddesses, who have acted the part of midwives.
1890, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, volume 2, page 133:
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(qualifier:process) Senses having to do with birth. ▸ To give birth to.
she delivered a baby boy yesterday
-
To free from or disburden of anything.
Tully was long ere he could be delivered of a few verses, and those poor ones.
1622, Henry Peacham, The Compleat Gentleman:
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To bring or transport something to its destination.
deliver a package
Mr. Cooke had had a sloop yacht built at Far Harbor, the completion of which had been delayed, and which was but just delivered.
1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter X, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:deliver the mail
-
To hand over or surrender (someone or something) to another.
The exalted mind / All sense of woe delivers to the wind.
1725, Homer, “Book IV”, in [Elijah Fenton], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume I, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC:Thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 40:13:deliver the thief to the police
The constables have delivered her over.
c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iv]:
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(informal, intransitive, transitive) To produce what is expected or required.
However, ministers argue they are delivering the Brexit demanded by the electorate – and say it is time for businesses to wean themselves off cheap migrant labour.
2020 February 18, “UK to close door to non-English speakers and unskilled workers”, in The Guardian:This is our vital mission to ensure opportunity and prosperity for all people and future generations. I am determined to deliver. Thank you.
2022 September 6, Liz Truss, “Prime Minister Liz Truss’s statement”, in Gov.uk:England delivered the finest performance of head coach Thomas Tuchel's reign as they took a giant stride towards World Cup qualification by outclassing Serbia in Belgrade.
2025 September 9, Phil McNulty, “Serbia 0-5 England”, in BBC Sport:deliver on a promise
But overall, I think the railway delivered very well on my travels. I'd give it 9/10 - there are just a few little rough edges that need smoothing off.
2023 November 29, 'Mystery Shopper', “Does the railway deliver for passengers?”, in RAIL, number 997, page 53:"You know, he plays great sometimes when he doesn't score," Brown said. "Tonight, with Rip (Richard Hamilton) struggling, we needed somebody to step up, and he really did. He really delivered."
2004, Detroit News, Detroit Pistons: Champions at Work, page 86:But...what exactly are celebrities asking for in the first place? It’s a classic chicken-and-egg scenario. Dw, tho, I asked the pros firsthand: What are the elite set asking for this year, for those of us who want to get in on the trends a little early? And they delivered.
2024 September 5, Beth Gillette, “24 Fall Hair Colors Every Celebrity Is Asking for Rn”, in Cosmopolitan:
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To express in words or vocalizations, declare, utter, or vocalize.
It’s a lovely sequence cut too short because the show seems afraid to give itself over to romance and whimsy and wistfulness when it has wedgie jokes to deliver.
2012 May 27, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “New Kid On The Block” (season 4, episode 8; originally aired 11/12/1992)”, in The Onion AV Club:England went into the interval 22-6 down, a second [Owen] Farrell penalty their only response to Scotland’s burst of tries. They had not conceded more points in a Six Nations match in the Eddie Jones era and when the whistle blew for the interval, Dylan Hartley formed his players into a circle to deliver a rallying cry.
2018 February 24, Paul Rees, “Finn Russell masterminds historic Scotland victory over England”, in The Guardian, London, archived from the original on 22 Apr 2018:deliver a speech
The stories did not seem to me to touch life. […] They left me with the impression of a well-delivered stereopticon lecture, with characters about as life-like as the shadows on the screen, and whisking on and off, at the mercy of the operator.
1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter I, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
-
To give forth in action or exercise; to discharge.
shaking his head and delivering some show of tears
a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC:to deliver a blow
An uninstructed bowler […] thinks to attain the jack by delivering his bowl straight forward.
1822, [Walter Scott], Peveril of the Peak. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC:
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To discover; to show.
I'll deliver myself your loyal servant.
c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene vi]:
-
To administer a drug.
Forms
Deriveds
deliveree · delivery · deliverable · deliver over to · hand-deliver · self-deliver · deliveress · hand deliver · deliver the goods · deliver over into · undeliverability · codeliver · overdeliver · outdeliver · deliver the message to Garcia · deliver up · redeliver · misdeliver · underdeliver · deliver up to · stand and deliver · deliverability · deliverly · deliverance · predeliver · deliverer · deliverness · deliverology
Synonyms
free (to set free) · utter (to express) · outbring (to express) · release · come through (produce what was required) · outbring (to set free) · rid (to set free) · liberate · loose (to set free) · free · come up with the goods (produce what was required)
Translations (227)
es diñar (to hand over or surrender) · hu kiszabadít (to set free) · acw نَقَل (to bring or transport something to its destination) · hu ont (to give forth in action or exercise; to discharge) · ja 配達する (to bring or transport something to its destination) · hu szül (to give birth) · gd lìbhrig (to hand over or surrender) · fr délivrer (to set free) · cmn 缴 (to hand over or surrender) · sa पिपर्ति (to free from or disburden of anything) · ms hantar (to bring or transport something to its destination) · acw وَدَّى (to bring or transport something to its destination) · da levere (to bring or transport something to its destination) · ha haifu (to set free) · cy esgori (to assist in bringing forth a child) · fa رساندن (to bring or transport something to its destination) · it consegnare (to bring or transport something to its destination) · da nedkomme (to give birth) · cmn 拯救 (to set free) · hu hullat (to give forth in action or exercise; to discharge) · cy esgori (to assist in giving birth) · cmn 遞送 /递送 (to bring or transport something to its destination) · la trādō (to hand over or surrender) · da omdele (to bring or transport something to its destination) · cmn 生 (to give birth) · be даста́віць (to bring or transport something to its destination) · fi heittää (to give forth in action or exercise; to discharge) · fi puhua (to express in words) · ru доста́вить (to bring or transport something to its destination) · ja …を果たす (to meet expectations) · fr tenir ses promesses (to meet expectations) · da overbringe (to bring or transport something to its destination) · es pegar (to give forth in action or exercise; to discharge) · de gebären (to give birth) · sh oslobòditi (to set free) · hu ad (to give forth in action or exercise; to discharge) · pl dostarczyć (to bring or transport something to its destination) · da udlevere (to hand over or surrender) · hu tart (to express in words) · ang āgan (to bring or transport something to its destination) · cs doručit (to bring or transport something to its destination) · ru доставля́ть (to bring or transport something to its destination) · ja 説く (to express in words) · hu felad (to hand over or surrender) · ba килтереү (to bring or transport something to its destination) · fi tirauttaa kyyneleitä (to give forth in action or exercise; to discharge) · ar نَقَلَ (to bring or transport something to its destination) · gd beir (to give birth) · ja 応じる (to meet expectations) · ko 출산하다 (to give birth) · th ส่ง (to bring or transport something to its destination) · hu kiad (to hand over or surrender) · de befreien (to set free) · da udbringe (to bring or transport something to its destination) · hu megszabadít (to set free) · pt dar à luz (to give birth) · it riconsegnare (to hand over or surrender) · qu quy (to bring or transport something to its destination) · be дастаўля́ць (to bring or transport something to its destination) · bg ра́ждам (to give birth) · acw وَصَّل (to bring or transport something to its destination) · fi kertoa (to express in words) · hu házhoz visz/szállít (to bring or transport something to its destination) · hu átad (to hand over or surrender) · fi avustaa synnytyksessä (to assist in bringing forth a child) · az çatdırmaq (to bring or transport something to its destination) · mk избави (to set free) · fr livrer (to hand over or surrender) · nl bevrijden (to set free) · es deliverar (to bring or transport something to its destination) · gd teasraig (to free from or disburden of anything) · pt entregar (to hand over or surrender) · cy esgori (to give birth) · gl entregar (to bring or transport something to its destination) · da ombære (to bring or transport something to its destination) · sv leverera (to bring or transport something to its destination) · gl levar (to bring or transport something to its destination) · az gətirmək (to bring or transport something to its destination) · cmn 接生 (to assist in giving birth) · cmn 解救 (to set free) · ro livra (to bring or transport something to its destination) · gd lìbhrig (to express in words) · es diñar (to bring or transport something to its destination) · hu világra hoz (to give birth) · ca lliurar (to bring or transport something to its destination) · cs odvázat (to set free) · gd tiorc (to set free) · pl dostarczać (to bring or transport something to its destination) · nl baren (to give birth) · da barsle (to give birth) · ja 演説する (to express in words) · ja 届ける (to bring or transport something to its destination) · pt entregar (to bring or transport something to its destination) · ko 해방시키다 (to set free) · eo liberigi (to set free) · mi whakawhānau (to give birth) · hu megszabadít (to free from or disburden of anything) · nl afleveren (to bring or transport something to its destination) · fi toimittaa (to bring or transport something to its destination) · ba алып барыу (to bring or transport something to its destination) · uk доста́вити (to bring or transport something to its destination) · hu kézbesít (to bring or transport something to its destination) · nb levere (to bring or transport something to its destination) · fi vapauttaa (to free from or disburden of anything) · sq dorëzo (to set free) · ba алып килеү (to bring or transport something to its destination) · ca entregar (to hand over or surrender) · el παραδίδω (to bring or transport something to its destination) · da udfri (to set free) · cmn 傳遞 /传递 (to bring or transport something to its destination) · hu kiszolgáltat (to hand over or surrender) · hu világra segít (to assist in giving birth) · mk доставува (to bring or transport something to its destination) · ja 引き渡す (to hand over or surrender) · ja 手渡す (to bring or transport something to its destination) · eo akuŝi (to give birth) · pt concretizar (to meet expectations) · fr livrer (to bring or transport something to its destination) · uz yetkazmoq (to bring or transport something to its destination) · ba ҡотҡарыу (to set free) · da aflevere (to bring or transport something to its destination) · nb forløse (to assist in giving birth) · he מסר (to hand over or surrender) · pl wybawiać (to set free) · nn levere (to bring or transport something to its destination) · vi giao (to hand over or surrender) · pt proferir (to express in words) · nb føde (to give birth) · pam iagkas (to free from or disburden of anything) · gl parir (to give birth) · da overgive (to hand over or surrender) · mkj kanoaisiki (to assist in giving birth) · cs osvobodit (to set free) · nb nedkomme med (to give birth) · ba тапшырыу (to bring or transport something to its destination) · es entregar (to hand over or surrender) · fi annostella (medicine: to administer a drug) · mk ослободи (to set free) · ms هنتر (to bring or transport something to its destination) · hu kiszállít (to bring or transport something to its destination) · ca entregar (to bring or transport something to its destination) · fr tenir parole (to meet expectations) · uk доставля́ти (to bring or transport something to its destination) · fr remettre (to hand over or surrender) · gd fuasgail (to set free) · da befri (to set free) · bg освобождавам (to set free) · ja 出産する (to give birth) · pt parir (to assist in giving birth) · pam iligtas (to free from or disburden of anything) · vi chuyển phát (to bring or transport something to its destination) · fi vapauttaa (to set free) · pt libertar (to set free) · ba азат итеү (to set free) · he שיחרר (to set free) · gl encaixar (to give forth in action or exercise; to discharge) · cmn 救 (to set free) · hu leszállít (to bring or transport something to its destination) · fi synnyttää (to give birth) · ko 배달하다 (to bring or transport something to its destination) · da overlevere (to bring or transport something to its destination) · hu hozza az elvárt eredményt (to meet expectations) · fi pitää puhe (to express in words) · fi luovuttaa (to hand over or surrender) · ca lliurar (to hand over or surrender) · pl wybawić (to set free) · sh poròditi (to give birth) · da indlevere (to bring or transport something to its destination) · fi auttaa maailmaan (to assist in bringing forth a child) · da holde (to express in words) · ast entregar (to bring or transport something to its destination) · da forløse (to assist in giving birth) · hi पहुंचाना (to bring or transport something to its destination) · gd thoir bho (to assist in giving birth) · gd lìbhrig (to bring or transport something to its destination) · fi paiskata (to give forth in action or exercise; to discharge) · az yetirmək (to bring or transport something to its destination) · nrf accouocher (to give birth) · de abliefern (to bring or transport something to its destination) · gl ceibar (to set free) · pam ikabus (to free from or disburden of anything) · gd teasraig (to set free) · ja 沿う・添う (to meet expectations) · hu beváltja a reményeket (hozzá fűzött) (to meet expectations) · fi lyödä (to give forth in action or exercise; to discharge) · mk достави (to bring or transport something to its destination) · pam iyagkas (to free from or disburden of anything) · gl mandar (to give forth in action or exercise; to discharge) · gd teasairg (to set free) · fr accoucher (to give birth) · fi viedä perille (to bring or transport something to its destination) · hu teljesíti az elvárásokat (to meet expectations) · de erlösen (to set free) · sv föda (to give birth) · es repartir (to bring or transport something to its destination) · da tage imod (to assist in giving birth) · fi päästää ((obsolete in English) to admit; to allow to pass) · ckb گەیاندن (to bring or transport something to its destination) · eo liveri (to bring or transport something to its destination) · ja 解放する (to set free) · ja 引き渡す (to bring or transport something to its destination) · bg доставям (to bring or transport something to its destination) · sh dòstaviti (to bring or transport something to its destination) · ja 応ずる (to meet expectations) · bg избавям (to set free) · pt parir (to give birth) · no befri (to set free) · fi avustaa synnytyksessä (to assist in giving birth) · ga fuascail (to set free) · th คลอด (to give birth) · mi whakawhānau (to assist in giving birth) · ba иреккә сығарыу (to set free) · pam iyapse (to free from or disburden of anything) · eo savi (to free from or disburden of anything) · gd thoir seachad (to express in words) · gd teasairg (to free from or disburden of anything) · cs porodit (to give birth) · hu mond (to express in words) · fi päästää vapaaksi (to set free) · gd thoir bho (to assist in bringing forth a child) · hu bead (medicine: to administer a drug) · es entregar (to bring or transport something to its destination) · cmn 产下 (to give birth) · gl liberar (to set free) · ba илтеү (to bring or transport something to its destination) · de liefern (to bring or transport something to its destination) · sv förlösa (to assist in giving birth)