all and sundry
all and sundry (idiom)
/ˌɔːl ən ˈsʌndri/
Meanings
- Everyone without exception.
- People in general from every class or type.
- A large mixed group of ordinary people.
- Anybody and everybody collectively.
Synonyms: everyone; everybody; the general public; one and all; the masses; all people; the whole crowd.
Example Sentences
- All and sundry came to the community hall to celebrate the mayor’s retirement.
- The news was soon known to all and sundry after it appeared in the local paper.
- The little roadside café welcomed all and sundry, whether rich tourists or tired workers.
- The performer entertained all and sundry during the busy summer festival.
Etymology and Origin
The idiom “all and sundry” simply points to every single person or item, taken both as a complete group and as separate individuals. It carries a sense of inclusiveness that leaves nothing and no one out, often used when something applies broadly or without distinction. Over time, speakers have turned to it for emphasis, whether describing who receives an invitation, who hears news, or who benefits from an offer.
Linguistic Roots
At its heart, the expression draws from an ancient word for “separate” or “distinct.” That term evolved to suggest various kinds or individual parts, which pairs naturally with “all” to cover both the collective whole and each unique element within it. This combination creates a balanced way of saying “everyone and everything” without needing extra explanation, a handy tool in both formal writing and casual talk.
Traces in Early English Texts
The building blocks of the phrase reach back to the earliest stages of the language, appearing in glosses and writings from the northern reaches of Britain around the eighth century. While full forms took shape later, these old examples show how the idea of separating and collecting began to blend in everyday and religious texts from that era.
A Landmark Early Record
One of the clearest early uses surfaces in a Scottish legal document from 1389, part of family records later gathered under the title Memorials of the Family of Wemyss. The line reads:
“Til there thyngys al and syndry lelily and fermly to be fulfyllyt.”
In plain terms, it means all and sundry things must be loyally and firmly carried out, showing the phrase already at home in official language by the late fourteenth century.
Where the Phrase First Took Hold
The idiom emerged in Scotland and the northern parts of England, regions where local speech and legal writing often mixed older forms with practical needs. Scottish charters and records repeatedly turned to it in the following decades, giving it a firm footing before it spread southward and into wider use across Britain.
Growth Through the Centuries
From those medieval legal settings, the expression moved steadily into church writings, proclamations, and ordinary conversation. By the early seventeenth century it showed up in Scottish church instructions, and it has stayed in active service ever since, keeping its original sense of thorough inclusion while feeling fresh in modern speech. Its long life speaks to how well it fits the human habit of wanting to cover every base.
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