Etimology
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 West Frisian even (“even”), Low German even (“even”), Dutch even (“even, equal, same”), effen, German eben (“even, flat, level”), Danish jævn (“even, flat, smooth”), Swedish jämn (“even, level, smooth”), Icelandic jafn, jamn (“even, equal”), 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 यमस् (yamás, “pair, twin”)) is problematic from a phonological point of view.
adjective
even (comparative more even, superlative most even)
Flat and level.
Without great variation.
Equal in proportion, quantity, size, etc.
(not comparable, of an integer) Divisible by two.
(of a number) Convenient for rounding other numbers to; for example, ending in a zero.
On equal monetary terms; neither owing nor being owed.
(colloquial) On equal terms of a moral sort; quits.
Parallel; on a level; reaching the same limit.
(obsolete) Without an irregularity, flaw, or blemish; pure.
(obsolete) Associate; fellow; of the same condition.
Examples
Clear out those rocks. The surface must be even.
Despite her fear, she spoke in an even voice.
The distribution of food must be even.
Call it even.
Four, fourteen and forty are even numbers.
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.
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.
You biffed me back at the barn, and I biffed you here—so now we're even.
And shall lay thee even with the ground.
I know my life so even.
His even servant.
Related words
synonyms
(flat and level): flat, level, uniform; see also Thesaurus:smooth
(without great variation): regular, monotone (voice); see also Thesaurus:steady
(equal): level, on par; see also Thesaurus:equal
(convenient for rounding): round
(on equal monetary terms): quits (colloquial, UK)
(on equal moral terms): quits, square
antonyms
(antonym(s) of “flat and level”): uneven
(antonym(s) of “divisible by two”): odd
verb
even (third-person singular simple present evens, present participle evening, simple past and past participle evened)
(transitive) To make flat and level.
(transitive, obsolete) To equal or equate; to make the same.
(intransitive, obsolete) To be equal.
(transitive, 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.
(transitive, obsolete) To set right; to complete.
(transitive, obsolete) To act up to; to keep pace with.
Examples
We need to even this playing field; the west goal is too low.
This temple Xerxes evened with the soil.
[...] 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: [...]
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.
“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.”
Thrice nine evens twenty seven.
A redoubled numbering never eveneth with the first.
We need to even the score.
Madam, the care I have had to even yourcontent I wish might be found in the calendar of mypast endeavours, for then we wound our modesty, andmake foul the clearness of our deservings, when ofourselves we publish them.
Prithee away,There's more to be considered: but we'll evenAll that good time will give us.
Related words
synonyms
(to make flat and level): flatten, level
(to equal): match
(to place in an equal state): settle
adverb
even (not comparable)
(archaic) Exactly, just, fully.
In reality; implying an extreme example in the case mentioned, as compared to the implied reality.
Emphasizing a comparative.
Signalling a correction of one's previous utterance; rather, that is.
Examples
I fulfilled my instructions even as I had promised.
You are leaving tonight? — Even so.
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.
Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn sometimes.
Did you even make it through the front door?
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.
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.
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.
Since the mid-1980s, when Indonesia first began to clear its bountiful forests on an industrial scale in favour of lucrative palm-oil plantations, “haze” has become an almost annual occurrence in South-East Asia. The cheapest way to clear logged woodland is to burn it, producing an acrid cloud of foul white smoke that, carried by the wind, can cover hundreds, or even thousands, of square miles.
I was strong before, but now I am even stronger.
My favorite actor is Jack Nicklaus. Jack Nicholson, even.
Related words
synonyms
(exactly, just, fully): definitely, precisely; see also Thesaurus:exactly
(implying extreme example): so much as
(correction to previous utterance): See Thesaurus:in other words
noun
even (plural evens)
(mathematics, diminutive) An even number.
Examples
So let's see. There are two evens here and three odds.
Etimology
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.
noun
even (plural evens)
(archaic or poetic) Evening.
Examples
When the even was come they brought unto him many that were possessed with devylles [...].
When sparkling stars twire not, thou gild'st the even.
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.
Related words
synonyms
evening, eventide; see also Thesaurus:evening
related terms
eve
evening