Etymology From Middle English eche, elche, ilch, from Old English ǣlċ, contraction of ǣġhwelċ. Comparable to aye + alike. Compare Scots ilk, elk (“each, every”), Saterland Frisian älk (“each”), West Frisian elk, elts (“each”), Dutch elk (“each”), Low German elk, ellik (“each”), German Low German elk, elke (“each, every”), German jeglicher (“any”). By surface analysis, Old English ā + which.
1
All; every; qualifying a singular noun, indicating all examples of the thing so named seen as individual or separate items (compare every).
Make sure you wash each bowl well.
The sun comes up each morning and sets each night.
1 more example
Irregular bedtimes may disrupt healthy brain development in young children, according to a study of intelligence and sleeping habits. ¶ Going to bed at a different time each night affected girls more than boys, but both fared worse on mental tasks than children who had a set bedtime, researchers found.2013 July 19, Ian Sample, “Irregular bedtimes may affect children's brains”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 34:
Etymology From Middle English eche, elche, ilch, from Old English ǣlċ, contraction of ǣġhwelċ. Comparable to aye + alike. Compare Scots ilk, elk (“each, every”), Saterland Frisian älk (“each”), West Frisian elk, elts (“each”), Dutch elk (“each”), Low German elk, ellik (“each”), German Low German elk, elke (“each, every”), German jeglicher (“any”). By surface analysis, Old English ā + which.
1
For one; apiece; per.
The apples cost 50 cents each.
2
Individually; separately; used in a sentence with a plural subject to indicate that the action or state described by the verb applies to all members of the described group individually, rather than collectively to the entire group.
We ordered half a chicken each, but we each got a whole one.
You are each right in a different way.
2 more examples
There are three of us and we have five dollars each, so that means we've got 15 dollars.
The apartments each boast central heating.
each
pron
Etymology From Middle English eche, elche, ilch, from Old English ǣlċ, contraction of ǣġhwelċ. Comparable to aye + alike. Compare Scots ilk, elk (“each, every”), Saterland Frisian älk (“each”), West Frisian elk, elts (“each”), Dutch elk (“each”), Low German elk, ellik (“each”), German Low German elk, elke (“each, every”), German jeglicher (“any”). By surface analysis, Old English ā + which.
1
Every one/thing individually or one by one.
I'm going to give each of you a chance to win.
From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.
each
noun
Etymology From Middle English eche, elche, ilch, from Old English ǣlċ, contraction of ǣġhwelċ. Comparable to aye + alike. Compare Scots ilk, elk (“each, every”), Saterland Frisian älk (“each”), West Frisian elk, elts (“each”), Dutch elk (“each”), Low German elk, ellik (“each”), German Low German elk, elke (“each, every”), German jeglicher (“any”). By surface analysis, Old English ā + which.
1
Human sciences, Philosophy, Sciences An individual item: the least quantitative unit in a grouping.
In one embodiment, there is an additional charge when ordering products as an “each” compared to the unit cost of the item when ordered by the case.1999, William S. Paasche, Thomas D. Kerker, System and method for managing recurring orders in a computer network, US Patent 7359871 (PDF version), page 50:
An each, piece, single item, or individual item package.2007, David E. Mulcahy, Eaches or Pieces Order Fulfillment, Design, and Operations Handbook (Series on resource management), Auerbach Publications, →ISBN, page 385:
2 more examples
The commonly used term “each” means that each individual item is one unit.2012, Arthur V. Hill, “unit of measure”, in Barry Render, editor, The Encyclopedia of Operations Management, FT Press, →ISBN, page 373:
Amour-propre would be able to take an interest in assuming the standpoint of reason, then, if applying 'each' to oneself in rational deliberation were simultaneously bound up with publicly establishing oneself as an 'each'2008, Frederick Neuhouser, Rousseau's theodicy of self-love, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 238: