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”).
Meanings
Flat and level.
Clear out those rocks. The surface must be even.
Without great variation.
Despite her fear, she spoke in an even voice.
Equal in proportion, quantity, size, etc.
Call it even.
The distribution of food must be even.
(not-comparable) Of an integer, divisible by two.
Four, fourteen and forty are even numbers.
(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:
On equal monetary terms; neither owing nor being owed.
(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.
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:
(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]:
(obsolete) Associate; fellow; of the same condition.
His even servant. c. 1382–1395, John Wycliffe, Bible - Matthew 18.29
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
eben
alternative
lexicographic
evener
Degree=Cmp
lexicographic
most even
Degree=Sup
lexicographic
evenest
Degree=Sup
lexicographic
more even
Degree=Cmp
lexicographic
e'en
alternative
lexicographic
Antonyms
odd (antonym(s) of “divisible by two”) · uneven (antonym(s) of “flat and level”)
fo javnur (flat and level) · mi taurite (equal) · ro egal (equal) · ota طوغری (flat and level) · sh па̑ран (arithmetic: divisible by two) · nl vlak (flat and level) · alt тӱс (flat and level) · ba тигеҙ (without great variation) · mi ōrite (equal) · ba тигеҙ (equal) · eo egala (equal) · ru чётный (arithmetic: divisible by two) · no jevn (arithmetic: divisible by two) · vec guałivo (flat and level) · ar مُتَسَاوٍ (equal) · pt constante (without great variation) · oc constant (without great variation) · ro plat (flat and level) · cs sudý (arithmetic: divisible by two) · nl gelijkmatig (equal) · he זוגי (arithmetic: divisible by two) · eo para (arithmetic: divisible by two) · xal төгс (arithmetic: divisible by two) · ru однообра́зный (without great variation) · fr plat (flat and level) · fi tasasuhtainen (equal) · es par (arithmetic: divisible by two) · fr pair (arithmetic: divisible by two) · oc planièr (flat and level) · es llano (flat and level) · el ομοιόμορφος (without great variation) · rm gualiv (flat and level) · io para (arithmetic: divisible by two) · hu sík (flat and level) · oc plat (flat and level) · sh pȃran (arithmetic: divisible by two) · vi chẵn (arithmetic: divisible by two) · hu kerek (of a number: convenient for rounding other numbers to) · hi सम (arithmetic: divisible by two) · vi bằng phẳng (flat and level) · oc plan (flat and level) · bg кръ́гъл (of a number: convenient for rounding other numbers to) · sv stadig (without great variation) · ja 平 (flat and level) · uk па́рний (arithmetic: divisible by two) · sk rovný (flat and level) · el όμοιος (equal) · vi bằng nhau (equal) · pl parzysty (arithmetic: divisible by two) · el άρτιος (arithmetic: divisible by two) · es amiguis (on equal terms morally) · es en paz (on equal terms morally) · hu igazságos (equal) · el ομαλός (without great variation) · cs vyrovnaný (without great variation) · uk рі́вний (flat and level) · km គូ (arithmetic: divisible by two) · izh rovnoi (without great variation) · pt quite (on equal terms morally) · is jafn (flat and level) · az cüt (arithmetic: divisible by two) · gd cothrom (arithmetic: divisible by two) · is jafn (arithmetic: divisible by two) · sv slät (flat and level) · fi tasaväkinen (equal) · af vlak (flat and level) · el ίσος (equal) · ja 偶数 (arithmetic: divisible by two) · rm guliv (flat and level) · sl sod (arithmetic: divisible by two) · ru равноме́рный (without great variation) · ca parell (arithmetic: divisible by two) · ms genap (arithmetic: divisible by two) · ar أَمْلَس (without great variation) · dsb rowny (arithmetic: divisible by two) · ar سَوِيّ (without great variation) · sq shesh (flat and level) · da jævn (arithmetic: divisible by two) · he שווה (equal) · de eben (flat and level) · hy հարթ (flat and level) · cs rovnoměrný (without great variation) · ro par (arithmetic: divisible by two) · lv pāra (arithmetic: divisible by two) · pl równy (equal) · pt padronizado (without great variation) · es igual (equal) · ms rata (flat and level) · ro pară (arithmetic: divisible by two) · hi समतल (flat and level) · be ро́ўны (flat and level) · got 𐌹𐌱𐌽𐍃 (flat and level) · da jævn (flat and level) · hy զույգ (arithmetic: divisible by two) · sh раван (flat and level) · hu méltányos (equal) · mk рамен (equal) · tr düz (flat and level) · mnc ᡨᡝᡴᠰᡳᠨ (equal) · pl jednostajny (without great variation) · ba йоп (arithmetic: divisible by two) · ar مُسَطَّح (flat and level) · de gleich (equal) · cmn 雙數 /双数 (arithmetic: divisible by two) · th คู่ (arithmetic: divisible by two) · rm planiv (flat and level) · el ζυγός (arithmetic: divisible by two) · oc pariu (equal) · fr régulier (equal) · nl gelijke (without great variation) · te చదునైన (flat and level) · ota سوی (flat and level) · fi tasoissa (on equal terms morally) · pl gładki (flat and level) · sv jämn (without great variation) · fur plac (flat and level) · fr uniforme (without great variation) · es parejo (equal) · de gleichmäßig (without great variation) · rm plàn (flat and level) · gd cothromach (equal) · mi paparite (flat and level) · ja あいこ (equal) · fi parillinen (arithmetic: divisible by two) · ko 고르다 (flat and level) · be цо́тны (arithmetic: divisible by two) · sv jämn (arithmetic: divisible by two) · bg че́тен (arithmetic: divisible by two) · ka ლუწი (arithmetic: divisible by two) · sv plan (flat and level) · hu egyenletes (without great variation) · fr monotone (without great variation) · vi bằng (flat and level) · ru пло́ский (flat and level) · pt par (arithmetic: divisible by two) · hu egyenlő (equal) · nl paar (arithmetic: divisible by two) · oc redond (of a number: convenient for rounding other numbers to) · grc ὁμαλής (flat and level) · mk мазен (flat and level) · cmn 平坦 (flat and level) · grc ἄρτιος (arithmetic: divisible by two) · ca pla (flat and level) · es parejo (flat and level) · fur plan (flat and level) · tr çift (arithmetic: divisible by two) · mn тэгш (flat and level) · pt uniforme (without great variation) · ru одина́ковый (equal) · hu egyenletes (flat and level) · it piano (flat and level) · la plānus (flat and level) · bg моното́нен (without great variation) · nl gelijkmatig (without great variation) · ga réidh (flat and level) · pt nivelado (flat and level) · gd cunbhalach (without great variation) · hi समान (equal) · ota دوز (flat and level) · nl gelijk (equal) · rm guleiv (flat and level) · he חלק (without great variation) · mi rōnaki (without great variation) · bg ра́вен (flat and level) · tr eşit (equal) · hu páros (arithmetic: divisible by two) · nl gelijkmatige (without great variation) · pl jednolity (without great variation) · ko 짝수의 (arithmetic: divisible by two) · ja 丁 (arithmetic: divisible by two) · cmn 偶數 /偶数 (arithmetic: divisible by two) · mi tauriterite (equal) · bg квит (on equal terms morally) · nl gelijke (flat and level) · sv platt (flat and level) · hu sima (flat and level) · lb gerued (arithmetic: divisible by two) · hy հավասար (equal) · fr uniforme (equal) · ru ро́вный (without great variation) · fi tasainen (without great variation) · af gelyk (without great variation) · ta இரட்டைப்படை (arithmetic: divisible by two) · fr rond (of a number: convenient for rounding other numbers to) · bg еднообра́зен (without great variation) · tl tukol (arithmetic: divisible by two) · vi đều đều (without great variation) · el επίπεδος (flat and level) · fr paire (arithmetic: divisible by two) · mk рамен (flat and level) · ba тигеҙ (flat and level) · sq rrafsh (flat and level) · ja 等しい (equal) · ru ра́вный (equal) · oc parièr (equal) · bg равноме́рен (without great variation) · es parches (on equal terms morally) · es a mano (on equal terms morally) · fi tasainen (equal) · ar زَوْجِيّ (arithmetic: divisible by two) · is sléttur (arithmetic: divisible by two) · es parchis (on equal terms morally) · rm anguliv (flat and level) · az düz (flat and level) · bg редом с (parallel; on a level) · nl vlakke (flat and level) · pl równomierny (without great variation) · az eyni (equal) · pl płaski (flat and level) · cs rovný (flat and level) · oc par (arithmetic: divisible by two) · nl gelijk (flat and level) · dng фонфур (arithmetic: divisible by two) · sk párny (arithmetic: divisible by two) · az bircür (without great variation) · tr eşit dağılımlı (without great variation) · fa جفت (of a number: convenient for rounding other numbers to) · kum жут (arithmetic: divisible by two) · fi pyöreä (of a number: convenient for rounding other numbers to) · pt quite (equal) · cs rovný (equal) · ca igual (equal) · gd cothromach (without great variation) · eo ebena (flat and level) · it pari (arithmetic: divisible by two) · fi tasapuolinen (equal) · pl równy (flat and level) · id rata (flat and level) · mk рамномерен (without great variation) · bg ра́вен (equal) · ru ро́вный (flat and level) · fi sujut (on equal monetary terms; neither owing nor being owed) · la pār (arithmetic: divisible by two) · hy հավասար (flat and level) · ru гла́дкий (flat and level) · fr quitte (on equal terms morally) · sh ravan (flat and level) · ko 일정하다 (without great variation) · mk рамномерен (flat and level) · de gerade (arithmetic: divisible by two) · ja 同等 (equal) · mk парен (arithmetic: divisible by two) · rm uliv (flat and level) · no skuls (on equal terms morally) · sv jämn (flat and level) · oc egal (equal) · vi đều đặn (without great variation) · ko 우수의 (arithmetic: divisible by two) · nl rond (of a number: convenient for rounding other numbers to) · bg постоя́нен (without great variation) · mi papatairite (flat and level) · fi tasainen (flat and level) · nl even (arithmetic: divisible by two) · fi tasainen (parallel; on a level) · hy հավասար (without great variation) · bg наравно с (parallel; on a level) · te సరి (arithmetic: divisible by two) · sv flat (flat and level) · ar مُنبَسِط (flat and level) · pt plano (flat and level)
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”).
Meanings
(archaic, not-comparable) Exactly; just; fully.
This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you.
I fulfilled my instructions even as I had promised.
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:
You are leaving tonight? — Even so.
(not-comparable) In reality (used to imply an extreme example in the case mentioned).
Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn sometimes.
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:
Did you even make it through the front door?
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:
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:
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. 2013 June 29, “Unspontaneous combustion”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8842, page 29:
That was before I was even born.
(not-comparable) Used to emphasise a comparative.
I was strong before, but now I am even stronger.
(not-comparable) Used to indicate a further degree of comparison.
Bob is taller than Alice, but Cameron is even taller than Bob.
(not-comparable) Rather; that is (used to signal a correction of a previous utterance).
My favorite actor is Jack Nicklaus. Jack Nicholson, even.
fr exactement (exactly, fully) · ko 더 (emphasising comparative) · ja もっと (emphasising comparative) · ru ро́вно (exactly, fully) · bg дори́ (implying extreme example) · ka -ც (implying extreme example) · eo eĉ (implying extreme example) · sv till och med (implying extreme example) · nl (niet) eens (implying extreme example) · fr voire (implying extreme example) · gl nin (implying extreme example) · km សូម្បីតែ (implying extreme example) · sk až (implying extreme example) · hu egyáltalán (implying extreme example) · el ακόμη και (implying extreme example) · af selfs (implying extreme example) · ru как ра́з (exactly, fully) · zdj hata (implying extreme example) · mk баш (exactly, fully) · sv än nu (emphasising comparative) · yue 更加 (emphasising comparative) · ru аж (implying extreme example) · pl nawet (emphasising comparative) · it esattamente (exactly, fully) · ru ещё и (implying extreme example) · nl zelfs maar (implying extreme example) · ka -ც (exactly, fully) · ky жадаганда (implying extreme example) · ko -도 (implying extreme example) · af nog...nog (emphasising comparative) · hu pontosan (exactly, fully) · ro și (emphasising comparative) · cs vůbec (implying extreme example) · nn til og med (implying extreme example) · sk ešte (emphasising comparative) · sv även (implying extreme example) · gl até (implying extreme example) · pt até (implying extreme example) · ko 심지어 (implying extreme example) · gd eadhan (emphasising comparative) · gl incluso (implying extreme example) · cs i (implying extreme example) · gl ainda (emphasising comparative) · sl celó (emphasising comparative) · hu teljesen (exactly, fully) · ang furþum (implying extreme example) · ky да (implying extreme example) · kk де (implying extreme example) · el ακόμη (emphasising comparative) · fa هنوز (emphasising comparative) · br zoken (implying extreme example) · ga fiú (implying extreme example) · fr encore (emphasising comparative) · nl zelfs (implying extreme example) · sh čak (implying extreme example) · mk токму (exactly, fully) · es incluso (implying extreme example) · uz hattoki (implying extreme example) · nn jamvel (implying extreme example) · az belə (implying extreme example) · it perfino (implying extreme example) · sl še (emphasising comparative) · cmn 甚至 (implying extreme example) · pt nem sequer (implying extreme example) · cmn 更 (emphasising comparative) · my တောင် (implying extreme example) · bg о́ще (emphasising comparative) · bg дори́ (emphasising comparative) · nb sågar (implying extreme example) · ru ещё (emphasising comparative) · ca fins i tot (implying extreme example) · lt net (implying extreme example) · he אפילו \ אֲפִלּוּ (emphasising comparative) · fa-ira حَتَّیٰ (implying extreme example) · ka -ც (emphasising comparative) · sh јо̏ш (emphasising comparative) · cu ѥште (emphasising comparative) · pt exatamente (exactly, fully) · cs ještě (emphasising comparative) · ka კი (implying extreme example) · de noch (emphasising comparative) · it neppure (implying extreme example) · de (nicht) mal (implying extreme example) · nn enda (emphasising comparative) · vi ngay cả (implying extreme example) · pl nawet (implying extreme example) · is ennþá (emphasising comparative) · cy hyd yn oed (implying extreme example) · fi edes (implying extreme example) · fr même (implying extreme example) · kk да (implying extreme example) · uk ще (emphasising comparative) · is enn (emphasising comparative) · izh ees (implying extreme example) · scn accuḍḍì (implying extreme example) · vi lại (emphasising comparative) · ru да́же (implying extreme example) · it ancora (emphasising comparative) · pt mesmo (exactly, fully) · yi אַפֿילו (implying extreme example) · ro chiar (implying extreme example) · es hasta (implying extreme example) · gl mesmo (emphasising comparative) · gl mesmo (implying extreme example) · th แม้ (implying extreme example) · bg то́чно (exactly, fully) · scn d'accuḍḍì (implying extreme example) · ko -까지 (implying extreme example) · sv ännu (emphasising comparative) · ca àdhuc (implying extreme example) · sh jȍš (emphasising comparative) · ru да́же (emphasising comparative) · sk aj (implying extreme example) · ba теүәл (exactly, fully) · cmn 連 /连 (implying extreme example) · ln ata (implying extreme example) · orv още (emphasising comparative) · lt ir (implying extreme example) · es aun (emphasising comparative) · bg по-скоро (correction of one's previous utterance) · ca encara (emphasising comparative) · hi और भी (implying extreme example) · mk уште (emphasising comparative) · la adeō (implying extreme example) · id bahkan (implying extreme example) · ro chiar (exactly, fully) · hy նույնիսկ (implying extreme example) · tr da (emphasising comparative) · et isegi (implying extreme example) · lv pat (implying extreme example) · nn sjølv (implying extreme example) · pt justo (exactly, fully) · ja も (implying extreme example) · yi אַפֿילו (emphasising comparative) · hu még (implying extreme example) · fr même (emphasising comparative) · ru вообще́ (implying extreme example) · gl aínda (implying extreme example) · pt mesmo (implying extreme example) · ja さえ (implying extreme example) · es tan siquiera (implying extreme example) · scn d'accuḍḍini (implying extreme example) · be на́ват (implying extreme example) · ko 까지도 (implying extreme example) · vi lại còn (emphasising comparative) · km សូម្បី (implying extreme example) · nb til og med (implying extreme example) · be яшчэ́ (emphasising comparative) · nb selv (implying extreme example) · ga fós (emphasising comparative) · bg по-точно (correction of one's previous utterance) · el καν (implying extreme example) · uz hatto (implying extreme example) · vi còn (emphasising comparative) · ru то́чно (exactly, fully) · vi thậm chí (implying extreme example) · el ακριβώς (exactly, fully) · sv ens (implying extreme example) · de sogar (implying extreme example) · af nog (exactly, fully) · cmn 更加 (emphasising comparative) · bzj fahn (implying extreme example) · cs dokonce (implying extreme example) · bg да́же (implying extreme example) · ar حَتَّى (implying extreme example) · pt ainda (emphasising comparative) · pt igualmente (emphasising comparative) · gl aínda (emphasising comparative) · fi vielä (emphasising comparative) · gl mesmo (exactly, fully) · tg ҳатто (implying extreme example) · sv än (emphasising comparative) · de überhaupt (implying extreme example) · nl überhaupt (implying extreme example) · sl celó (implying extreme example) · ur اَور بھی (implying extreme example) · tr hatta (implying extreme example) · es incluso (emphasising comparative) · sh чак (implying extreme example) · la etiam (implying extreme example) · bg да́же (emphasising comparative) · ba хатта (implying extreme example) · pl jeszcze (emphasising comparative) · km ទាំង (implying extreme example) · sk dokonca (implying extreme example) · nv ndi (emphasising comparative) · ja まで (implying extreme example) · fr complètement (exactly, fully) · nn endåtil (implying extreme example) · hu még (emphasising comparative) · tr bile (implying extreme example) · fi jopa (implying extreme example) · tr dahi (implying extreme example) · gl nin sequera (implying extreme example) · ja にも (implying extreme example) · izh daaže (implying extreme example) · nn endå (emphasising comparative) · he אפילו \ אֲפִלּוּ (implying extreme example) · sga cid (implying extreme example) · az da (implying extreme example) · it addirittura (implying extreme example) · gd eadhan (implying extreme example) · ko -조차 (implying extreme example) · pt completamente (exactly, fully) · ro exact (exactly, fully) · cs ještě (implying extreme example) · it completamente (exactly, fully) · sv rentav (implying extreme example) · nl nog (emphasising comparative) · az də (implying extreme example) · io mem (emphasising comparative) · uk на́віть (implying extreme example) · ang ġīet (emphasising comparative) · nb enda (emphasising comparative) · lad bilé (implying extreme example) · mk дури (implying extreme example) · io mem (implying extreme example) · az hətta (implying extreme example) · es siquiera (implying extreme example)
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”).
Meanings
(diminutive) An even number.
So let's see. There are two evens here and three odds.
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”).
Meanings
(transitive) To make flat and level.
[...] 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:
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):
We need to even this playing field; the west goal is too low.
(obsolete, transitive) 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:
(intransitive, 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:
(obsolete, transitive) 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:
(obsolete, transitive) To set right; to complete.
(obsolete, transitive) 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:
level (to make flat and level) · settle (to place in an equal state) · flatten (to make flat and level) · match (to equal)
Translations (35)
fr aplatir (to make even) · got 𐌲𐌰𐌹𐌱𐌽𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to make even) · ru ровня́ть (to make even) · sv jämna ut (to make even) · pl wyrównać (to make even) · bg изравнявам (to make even) · sv jämna (to make even) · vi làm bằng (to make even) · da jævne (to make even) · it spianare (to make even) · hu kiegyenesít (to make even) · ru выра́внивать (to make even) · es allanar (to make even) · nl gelijkmaken (to make even) · pt uniformizar (to make even) · fr égaliser (to make even) · pt padronizar (to make even) · vi san bằng (to make even) · el ισιώνω (to make even) · nl platmaken (to make even) · vi làm phẳng (to make even) · fi tasoittaa (to make even) · hu elegyenget (to make even) · de ebnen (to make even) · hu kiegyenlít (to make even) · hu egyenget (to make even) · cs vyrovnat (to make even) · pt nivelar (to make even) · mi whakaōrite (to make even) · sv platta till (to make even) · fr niveler (to make even) · bg изравня (to make even) · sv plana ut (to make even) · pt igualar (to make even) · nl evenen (to make even)
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.
Meanings
(archaic, poetic) Evening.
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:
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:
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:
bg вечер (Evening of the day) · sv kväll (Evening of the day) · la vesper (Evening of the day) · es tarde (Evening of the day) · af aand (Evening of the day) · he ערב (Evening of the day) · it sera (Evening of the day) · nl avondstond (Evening of the day) · sv afton (Evening of the day) · vi chiều (Evening of the day) · fr veillée (Evening of the day) · pl poranek (Evening of the day) · ru ве́чер (Evening of the day) · cs večer (Evening of the day) · fi ilta (Evening of the day) · fr veillée du soir (Evening of the day)