even meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

even

adjalso spelled Even

/ˈiːvən/ · [ˈɪi̯vən] ~ [ˈɪi̯vn̩]

Etymology

From Middle English even, from Old English efn (“flat; level, even, equal”), from Proto-West Germanic *ebn, from Proto-Germanic *ebnaz, from Proto-Indo-European *(h₁)em-no- (“equal, straight; flat, level, even”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian íeuwen (“even, flat”), West Frisian even (“even”), Alemannic German ëben (“even”), Cimbrian ébane (“even”), Dutch even (“even, equal, same”), effen (“leveled”), German eben (“even, flat, level”), Danish jævn (“even, flat, smooth”), Icelandic jafn (“even”), Norwegian Bokmål jevn (“even, smooth”), Norwegian Nynorsk jamn (“even, smooth”), Swedish jämn (“even, level, smooth”), Gothic 𐌹𐌱𐌽𐍃 (ibns, “even”), Old Cornish eun (“equal, right”) (attested in Vocabularium Cornicum eun-hinsic (“iustus, i. e., just”)), Old Breton eun (“equal, right”) (attested in Eutychius Glossary eunt (“aequus, i. e., equal”)), Middle Breton effn, Breton eeun, Sanskrit अम्नस् (amnás, “(adverb) just, just now; at once”). The verb descends from Middle English evenen, from Old English efnan; the adverb from Middle English evene, from Old English efne. The traditional proposal connecting the Germanic adjective with the root Proto-Indo-European *h₂eym- (Latin imāgō (“picture, image, likeness, copy”), Latin aemulus (“competitor, rival”), Sanskrit यम (yamá, “pair, twin”)) is problematic from a phonological point of view. For the meaning development compare with Latin aequus (“equal, level, even, flat, horizontal”), Russian ро́вный (róvnyj, “even, level, flat, smooth”), ра́вный (rávnyj, “equal”), по́ровну (pórovnu, “in equal parts”).

10 senses

1Flat and level.
2Without great variation.
3Equal in proportion, quantity, size, etc.
4Of an integer, divisible by two.
5Of a number, convenient for rounding other numbers to…
6On equal monetary terms; neither owing nor being owed.
7On equal terms of a moral sort; quits.
8Parallel; on a level; reaching the same limit.
9Without an irregularity, flaw, or blemish; pure.
10Associate; fellow; of the same condition.

1

Flat and level.

Clear out those rocks. The surface must be even.

2

Without great variation.

Despite her fear, she spoke in an even voice.

3

Equal in proportion, quantity, size, etc.

The distribution of food must be even.
Call it even.

4

Mathematics, Sciences Of an integer, divisible by two.

Four, fourteen and forty are even numbers.

5

Informal Of a number, convenient for rounding other numbers to; for example, ending in a zero.

Coles. How many shares have you bought, Mr. Garfinkle? Garfinkle. One hundred and ninety-six thousand.[…] Jorgenson. […] How'd you figure out to buy such an odd amount? Why not two hundred thousand — nice even number. Thought you liked nice even numbers.1989, Jerry Sterner, Other People's Money, act I:
He put me on the scale in my underwear and socks: 82 pounds.[…] I left, humming all day long, remembering that once upon a time my ideal weight had been 84, and now I'd even beaten that. I decided 80 was a better number, a nice even number to be.1998, Marya Hornbacher, chapter 8, in Wasted, paperback edition, HarperPerennial, published 1999, →ISBN, page 253:

6

On equal monetary terms; neither owing nor being owed.

7

Colloquial On equal terms of a moral sort; quits.

You biffed me back at the barn, and I biffed you here—so now we're even.

8

Parallel; on a level; reaching the same limit.

And shall lay thee even with the ground.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke xix:44:

9

Obsolete Without an irregularity, flaw, or blemish; pure.

I know my life so even.1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:

10

Obsolete Associate; fellow; of the same condition.

His even servant.c. 1382–1395, John Wycliffe, Bible - Matthew 18.29

Synonyms: flat, level, uniform, regular, monotone, on par, round, quits, square
Antonyms: uneven, odd
Derived terms: 45 terms
all even, break even, break-even point, call it even, doubly even, draw even, even chance, even-Christian, even-down, evendown, even-even, even function, even hand at the tiller, evenhanded, even hand on the tiller, evenhood, even-interval, evenish, even keel, even-keeled, evenlike, evenly, even-minded, even money, evenness, even number, even-numbered, even-odd, even odds, even permutation, even-pinnate, even-steven, even-stevens, even-tempered, even-toed, even-weave, even working, get even, getting even, noneven, odd-even, of even date, singly even, threeven, uneven

even

verb

Etymology

From Middle English even, from Old English efn (“flat; level, even, equal”), from Proto-West Germanic *ebn, from Proto-Germanic *ebnaz, from Proto-Indo-European *(h₁)em-no- (“equal, straight; flat, level, even”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian íeuwen (“even, flat”), West Frisian even (“even”), Alemannic German ëben (“even”), Cimbrian ébane (“even”), Dutch even (“even, equal, same”), effen (“leveled”), German eben (“even, flat, level”), Danish jævn (“even, flat, smooth”), Icelandic jafn (“even”), Norwegian Bokmål jevn (“even, smooth”), Norwegian Nynorsk jamn (“even, smooth”), Swedish jämn (“even, level, smooth”), Gothic 𐌹𐌱𐌽𐍃 (ibns, “even”), Old Cornish eun (“equal, right”) (attested in Vocabularium Cornicum eun-hinsic (“iustus, i. e., just”)), Old Breton eun (“equal, right”) (attested in Eutychius Glossary eunt (“aequus, i. e., equal”)), Middle Breton effn, Breton eeun, Sanskrit अम्नस् (amnás, “(adverb) just, just now; at once”). The verb descends from Middle English evenen, from Old English efnan; the adverb from Middle English evene, from Old English efne. The traditional proposal connecting the Germanic adjective with the root Proto-Indo-European *h₂eym- (Latin imāgō (“picture, image, likeness, copy”), Latin aemulus (“competitor, rival”), Sanskrit यम (yamá, “pair, twin”)) is problematic from a phonological point of view. For the meaning development compare with Latin aequus (“equal, level, even, flat, horizontal”), Russian ро́вный (róvnyj, “even, level, flat, smooth”), ра́вный (rávnyj, “equal”), по́ровну (pórovnu, “in equal parts”).

1

To make flat and level.

We need to even this playing field; the west goal is too low.
This temple Xerxes evened with the soil.1614, Walter Ralegh [i.e., Walter Raleigh], The Historie of the World […], London: […] William Stansby for Walter Burre, […], →OCLC, (please specify |book=1 to 5):

1 more example

[...] It will now be good to Beat, Roll, and Mow Carpet-walks, and Cammomile; for now the ground is ſupple, and it will even all inequalities: [...]1669, John Evelyn, “Kalendarium Hortense: OrThe Gard’ners Almanac; […] [October.]”, in Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-trees and the Propagation of Timber in His Majesties Dominions. […], 3rd edition, London: […] Jo[hn] Martyn, and Ja[mes] Allestry, printers to the Royal Society, →OCLC, page 27:

2

Obsolete To equal or equate; to make the same.

The Engliſh Earl [William Longespée the Younger], though he ſtood on the lower ground in point of birth, yet conceived himſelf to even him [Robert I, Count of Artois] in valour and martiall knowledge.1639, Thomas Fuller, “Discords betwixt the French and English; the Death & Disposition of Meladine King of Egypt”, in The Historie of the Holy Warre, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Thomas Buck, one of the printers to the Universitie of Cambridge [and sold by John Williams, London], →OCLC, book IV, page 192:
“But aside from that,” I continued, “what have I done that you should even me to dogs by such a supposition? I never yet failed a friend, and it’s not likely I’ll begin with you. There are things between us that I can never forget, even if you can.”1886 May 1 – July 31, Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped, being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751: […], London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 1886, →OCLC:

3

Obsolete To be equal.

Thrice nine evens twenty seven.
A redoubled numbering never eveneth with the first.1609, Richard Carew, The Survey of Cornwall, London: […] S[imon] S[tafford] for Iohn Iaggard, […], →OCLC:

4

Obsolete To place in an equal state, as to obligation, or in a state in which nothing is due on either side; to balance, as accounts; to make quits.

We need to even the score.
Madam, the care I have had to even your content I wish might be found in the calendar of my past endeavours, for then we wound our modesty, and make foul the clearness of our deservings, when of ourselves we publish them.c. 1604–05, William Shakespeare, All's Well that Ends Well, act 1, scene 3:

5

Obsolete To set right; to complete.

6

Obsolete To act up to; to keep pace with.

Prithee away, There's more to be considered: but we'll even All that good time will give us.c. 1611, William Shakespeare, Cymbeline, act 3, scene 4:

Synonyms: flatten, level, match, settle
Derived terms: even out, even the score, even up

even

adv

Etymology

From Middle English even, from Old English efn (“flat; level, even, equal”), from Proto-West Germanic *ebn, from Proto-Germanic *ebnaz, from Proto-Indo-European *(h₁)em-no- (“equal, straight; flat, level, even”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian íeuwen (“even, flat”), West Frisian even (“even”), Alemannic German ëben (“even”), Cimbrian ébane (“even”), Dutch even (“even, equal, same”), effen (“leveled”), German eben (“even, flat, level”), Danish jævn (“even, flat, smooth”), Icelandic jafn (“even”), Norwegian Bokmål jevn (“even, smooth”), Norwegian Nynorsk jamn (“even, smooth”), Swedish jämn (“even, level, smooth”), Gothic 𐌹𐌱𐌽𐍃 (ibns, “even”), Old Cornish eun (“equal, right”) (attested in Vocabularium Cornicum eun-hinsic (“iustus, i. e., just”)), Old Breton eun (“equal, right”) (attested in Eutychius Glossary eunt (“aequus, i. e., equal”)), Middle Breton effn, Breton eeun, Sanskrit अम्नस् (amnás, “(adverb) just, just now; at once”). The verb descends from Middle English evenen, from Old English efnan; the adverb from Middle English evene, from Old English efne. The traditional proposal connecting the Germanic adjective with the root Proto-Indo-European *h₂eym- (Latin imāgō (“picture, image, likeness, copy”), Latin aemulus (“competitor, rival”), Sanskrit यम (yamá, “pair, twin”)) is problematic from a phonological point of view. For the meaning development compare with Latin aequus (“equal, level, even, flat, horizontal”), Russian ро́вный (róvnyj, “even, level, flat, smooth”), ра́вный (rávnyj, “equal”), по́ровну (pórovnu, “in equal parts”).

1

Archaic Exactly; just; fully.

I fulfilled my instructions even as I had promised.
You are leaving tonight? — Even so.

2 more examples

This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you.
But on the occasion in question, those dents looked deeper, even as his nervous step that morning left a deeper mark.1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 36, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 177:

2

In reality (used to imply an extreme example in the case mentioned).

Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn sometimes.
Did you even make it through the front door?

4 more examples

That was before I was even born.
He used to drop into my chambers once in a while to smoke, and was first-rate company. When I gave a dinner there was generally a cover laid for him. I liked the man for his own sake, and even had he promised to turn out a celebrity it would have had no weight with me.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, page 2:
Carried somehow, somewhither, for some reason, on these surging floods, were these travelers,[…]. Even such a boat as the Mount Vernon offered a total deck space so cramped as to leave secrecy or privacy well out of the question, even had the motley and democratic assemblage of passengers been disposed to accord either.1910, Emerson Hough, chapter II, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
He read the letter aloud. Sophia listened with the studied air of one for whom, even in these days, a title possessed some surreptitious allurement.1921, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:

3

Used to emphasise a comparative.

I was strong before, but now I am even stronger.

4

Used to indicate a further degree of comparison.

Bob is taller than Alice, but Cameron is even taller than Bob.

5

Rather; that is (used to signal a correction of a previous utterance).

My favorite actor is Jack Nicklaus. Jack Nicholson, even.

Synonyms: definitely, precisely, so much as, still, in other words
Derived terms: 30 terms
can't even, don't even think about it, even a blind pig can find an acorn, even a blind pig can find an acorn once in a while, even a blind squirrel can find a nut once in a while, even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every now and then, even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every once in a while, even as, even as we speak, even a worm will turn, even Homer nods, even if, even if one's life depended on it, even Jove nods, even more, even so, even still, even then, even though, get even or get even worse, I hardly even know her, it is not even funny, it isn't even funny, it's not even funny, not even, not even once, not even one, not even wrong, the ink was not even dry, what is this I don't even

Even

noun

/əˈvɛn/

Etymology Borrowed from Russian эве́н (evén), from Even эвэн (əwən). Compare Evenki.

1

A member of an indigenous people living in Siberia and the Russian Far East.

Synonyms: Lamut

even

noun

Etymology

From Middle English even, from Old English efn (“flat; level, even, equal”), from Proto-West Germanic *ebn, from Proto-Germanic *ebnaz, from Proto-Indo-European *(h₁)em-no- (“equal, straight; flat, level, even”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian íeuwen (“even, flat”), West Frisian even (“even”), Alemannic German ëben (“even”), Cimbrian ébane (“even”), Dutch even (“even, equal, same”), effen (“leveled”), German eben (“even, flat, level”), Danish jævn (“even, flat, smooth”), Icelandic jafn (“even”), Norwegian Bokmål jevn (“even, smooth”), Norwegian Nynorsk jamn (“even, smooth”), Swedish jämn (“even, level, smooth”), Gothic 𐌹𐌱𐌽𐍃 (ibns, “even”), Old Cornish eun (“equal, right”) (attested in Vocabularium Cornicum eun-hinsic (“iustus, i. e., just”)), Old Breton eun (“equal, right”) (attested in Eutychius Glossary eunt (“aequus, i. e., equal”)), Middle Breton effn, Breton eeun, Sanskrit अम्नस् (amnás, “(adverb) just, just now; at once”). The verb descends from Middle English evenen, from Old English efnan; the adverb from Middle English evene, from Old English efne. The traditional proposal connecting the Germanic adjective with the root Proto-Indo-European *h₂eym- (Latin imāgō (“picture, image, likeness, copy”), Latin aemulus (“competitor, rival”), Sanskrit यम (yamá, “pair, twin”)) is problematic from a phonological point of view. For the meaning development compare with Latin aequus (“equal, level, even, flat, horizontal”), Russian ро́вный (róvnyj, “even, level, flat, smooth”), ра́вный (rávnyj, “equal”), по́ровну (pórovnu, “in equal parts”).

1

Mathematics, Sciences Diminutive An even number.

So let's see. There are two evens here and three odds.

even

noun

Etymology From Middle English even, from Old English ǣfen, from Proto-West Germanic *ābanþ, from Proto-Germanic *ēbanþs (“evening”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Äivend, Äiwend, Eeuwend (“evening”), West Frisian jûn (“evening”), Dutch avond (“evening”), Low German Avend (“evening”), German Abend (“evening”), Danish aften (“evening”). See also the related terms eve and evening.

1

Archaic, Poetic Evening.

We'll meet at even, when the sun is set.
Whẽ the evẽ was come they bꝛought vnto hĩ many that were poſſeſſed with devyllꝭ / […]1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Matthew viij:[16], folio x, recto:

2 more examples

When ſparkling ſtars twire not thou guil'ſt th' eauen.1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 28”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC, signature C2, verso:
And if any mans ſeede of copulation goe out from him, then hee ſhall waſh all his fleſh in water, and bee vncleane vntill the Euen.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Leviticus 15:16, signature L2, verso, column 2:

Synonyms: evening, eventide
Derived terms: evenfall, evenlight, evensong, evenstar, evenward, yestereven
Related terms: eve, evening

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