(adv) wholly, entirely, completely (comparative way totes and totes totes)
(slang) to the extreme (comparative way totes and totes totes)
Origins of totes
To make totally - with all of its connotations - come out of one's mouth faster than ever. I cannot remember exactly where totes came from or when exactly it infiltrated conversation. I have a feeling that it arrived about the same time as def, jeal, and prob.
For the first few weeks after assimilating totes into my vernacular, I struggled with how to spell it in text messages. It took my bestie C's reminders of basic 3rd grade phonetics before I finally mastered the spelling of totes. And, this is what I reminded (read: this is what I learned for the first time at age 26):
Totes, by this definition, is not the plural form of the word tote, as in, "I can't wait for my Mark Sanford tote bag to arrive in the mail!"
Nor is totes the plural form of that amazing starchy treat, tater tots, which The Yacht Club serves in pitchers.
And, finally, totes is in no way etymologically related to Toto, the amazing 80's rock band which brought us the totes classic, "Africa." It may or may not be my ring tone.
The uses of totes
via text
MS: i just heard a christmas melody on the radio and it was acapella group sining 12 days of christmas to africa by toto. yeah it was amazing.
Me: What?! Totes Jeal! I'm going to find it online RIGHT now!
via email
M: Talked to Heidi this weekend via K and she totes said to come down whenever. So, that's my plan. Stat.
in conversation
Me: Arg! This day can be done whenever. It's been a totes waste!
In summary and in conclusion
Totes might make the user sound slightly like a valley girl of the late 1980's. However, (bear with me as I jump on the band wagon) it is a sustainable word. Totes a whole two characters less than totally and therefore takes less time and subsequently less electricity to type. As far as using it in speech, it's totes lazy, and I'm totes ok with that. Totes.
