From Middle English ever, from Old English ǣfre, originally a phrase whose first element undoubtedly consists of Old English ā (“ever, always”) + in (“in”) + an element possibly from feorh (“life, existence”) (dative fēore). Compare Old English ā tō fēore (“ever in life”), Old English feorhlīf (“life”) from feorh (“life”) + līf (“life”).
Sense 5 of the adverb was likely formed by association with never, which also carries the meaning of did not in colloquial Singaporean and Malaysian English. Also, compare Chinese 有 … 過 /有 … 过 (yǒu ... guò / jau⁵ ... gwo³, “has […] before”).
Meanings
(not-comparable) Occurring at any time, occurring even but once during a timespan.
This family empathy measure is highly related to ever use of birth control but not to any measure of continuous use. 1965, Reuben Hill, The family and population control: a Puerto Rican experiment in social change:
From Middle English ever, from Old English ǣfre, originally a phrase whose first element undoubtedly consists of Old English ā (“ever, always”) + in (“in”) + an element possibly from feorh (“life, existence”) (dative fēore). Compare Old English ā tō fēore (“ever in life”), Old English feorhlīf (“life”) from feorh (“life”) + līf (“life”).
Sense 5 of the adverb was likely formed by association with never, which also carries the meaning of did not in colloquial Singaporean and Malaysian English. Also, compare Chinese 有 … 過 /有 … 过 (yǒu ... guò / jau⁵ ... gwo³, “has […] before”).
Let us ever remember that our conception, our comprehension, our feeling of God must be ever imperfect, yet should be ever advancing. We must not make God: we must find Him and feel Him more and more. 1860, Florence Nightingale, Suggestions for Thought to the searchers after truth among the artizans of England., page 302:
Kane picked up the ball 25 yards out with 18 minutes left before proving he is ever the opportunist by flashing a dipping swerving drive beyond the deceived Szczesny. 2021 September 8, Phil McNulty, “Poland 1-1 England”, in BBC Sport:
The library staffs of the Karaton Surakarta's Sasana Pustaka, the Mangku- nagaran's Reksa Pustaka, and the Museum Radyapustaka were ever helpful and generous with their time. 1993, Nancy K. Florida, Javanese Literature in Surakarta Manuscripts: Introduction and manuscripts of the Karaton Surakarta, SEAP Publications, →ISBN, page 9:
“A tight little craft,” was Austin’s invariable comment on the matron;[…]. ¶ Near her wandered her husband, orientally bland, invariably affable, and from time to time squinting sideways, as usual, in the ever-renewed expectation that he might catch a glimpse of his stiff, retroussé moustache. 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter IX, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
It was ever thus.
As with the rest of macroeconomics, the issues have to be rethought in a way that makes the ever-imperfect knowledge of market participants and policymakers an integral part of the analysis. 2007, Roman Frydman, Michael D. Goldberg, Imperfect Knowledge Economics: Exchange Rates and Risk, Princeton University Press, →ISBN:
[…] the Lord Treasurer, who ever secretly feigned himself to be a Moderator and Mollifier of the Catholicks Afflictions […] 1592, George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax, An Advertisement […] concerning Seminary Priests:
(not-comparable) Continuously, constantly, all the time (for the complete duration).
People struggled to cope with the ever-increasing cost of living.
For what seemed ages piled on ages, I lay there, frozen with the most awful fears, not daring to drag away my hand; yet ever thinking that if I could but stir it one single inch, the horrid spell would be broken. 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 4, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 29:
(not-comparable) At any time.
I’ll stop your ever doing that again.
He's back and better than ever.
If that ever happens, we’re in deep trouble.
This is one of the best movies ever.
I scarcely ever see you anymore!.
We've only ever talked on the phone.
He said the study provides clear evidence that AI technologies are growing at a faster rate than ever and will continue to do so. 2019 February 3, “UN Study: China, US, Japan Lead World AI Development”, in Voice of America, archived from the original on 07 Feb 2019:
Now all this was very fine, but not at all in keeping with the Celebrity's character as I had come to conceive it. The idea that adulation ever cloyed on him was ludicrous in itself. In fact I thought the whole story fishy, and came very near to saying so. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter III, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
(informal, not-comparable) As intensifier following an interrogative word.
Did I ever!
Was I ever glad to see you!
(Manglish, Singlish, not-comparable) Indicates experiential aspect, once; has or have (done something) before.
but i ever ran 5mins using the 1400 cells and the type RR 23T motor... 2005 January 10, hellangel, “Tamiya Asiacup Qualifying 2005 (singapore)”, in rctech.net:
i ever walked from the south to MacRitchie Reservoir..... 2021 July 13, Lchlch, “What are your hobbies in sg?”, in HardwareZone Forums:
hu nagyon (intensifier following an interrogative word) · hu ám (intensifier following an interrogative word) · fi ikinä (at any time) · hu valamikor (at any time) · hu folyton (continuously, constantly, all the time) · el ποτέ (at any time) · hu valaha (at any time) · hy երբևիցե (at any time) · tr her zaman (always) · da immer (always) · fa همیشه (always) · sv någonsin (at any time) · pl stale (continuously, constantly, all the time) · la unquam (at any time) · fi koskaan (at any time) · de jemals (at any time) · fi kyllä (intensifier following an interrogative word) · ia unquam (at any time) · sl kdàj (at any time) · hy միշտ (always) · es alguna vez (at any time) · got 𐌰𐌹𐍅 (always) · el πάντοτε (always) · de immer (always) · fi ikinä (in any way) · hu igen (intensifier following an interrogative word) · fi aina (always) · cy bob amser (always) · et kunagi (always) · lv jebkad (at any time) · fi jatkuvasti (continuously, constantly, all the time) · ca mai (at any time) · eo ĉiam (always) · de ewig (always) · ru когда́-либо (at any time) · ja ずっと (always) · ka ოდესმე (at any time) · hu akármikor (at any time) · uk коли́-не́будь (at any time) · ru всегда́ (always) · ko 이제까지 (always) · la umquam (at any time) · ar يَوْمًا (at any time) · es siempre (always) · uk завжди́ (always) · ko 항상 (always) · hu bizony (intensifier following an interrogative word) · ko 언제든 (at any time) · eo iel ajn (in any way) · eo ĉiam (continuously, constantly, all the time) · cy yn wastad (always) · fr toujours (always) · da altid (always) · grc πώποτε (at any time) · bg когато и да е (at any time) · fy ea (at any time) · ja いつか (at any time) · pt alguma vez (at any time) · da idelig (always) · pt sempre (always) · nl ooit (at any time) · bg ви́наги (always) · pl zawsze (always) · eu inoiz (at any time) · sh ikad (at any time) · ko 늘 (always) · got 𐍈𐌰𐌽𐌷𐌿𐌽 (at any time) · cmn 曾經 /曾经 (at any time) · cs někdy (at any time) · es jamás (at any time) · sv alltid (always) · ko 언제나 (always) · eu noizbait (at any time) · gd riamh (at any time) · fi koskaan (in any way) · ja いつも (always) · ia jammais (at any time) · eo iam (at any time) · tr hiç (at any time) · la semper (always) · nn stadig (always) · nl ooit (always) · fr jamais (at any time) · pl coraz (continuously, constantly, all the time) · hu örökké (continuously, constantly, all the time) · es jamás (always) · tr ebediyen (always) · nl steeds (always) · cy erioed (at any time) · tr hep (always) · hu egyre csak (continuously, constantly, all the time) · fy jimmer (always) · vi bao giờ (always) · eo iam ajn (at any time) · sh uvijek (always) · hu igazán (intensifier following an interrogative word) · vi bao giờ (at any time) · he אֵי פַּעַם (at any time) · pl kiedykolwiek (at any time) · la numcubi (at any time) · hu folyton (always) · nn nokosinne (at any time) · hu akárhogyan (in any way) · it mai (at any time) · cmn 總是 /总是 (always) · pdt jeemols (at any time) · hu egyre (continuously, constantly, all the time) · de je (at any time) · nl altijd (always) · el πάντα (always) · hu mindig (always) · cy byth (at any time) · pt de sempre (at any time) · de stets (always) · hu valahogyan (in any way) · nn støtt (always) · nb noensinne (at any time)
From Middle English ever, from Old English ǣfre, originally a phrase whose first element undoubtedly consists of Old English ā (“ever, always”) + in (“in”) + an element possibly from feorh (“life, existence”) (dative fēore). Compare Old English ā tō fēore (“ever in life”), Old English feorhlīf (“life”) from feorh (“life”) + līf (“life”).
Sense 5 of the adverb was likely formed by association with never, which also carries the meaning of did not in colloquial Singaporean and Malaysian English. Also, compare Chinese 有 … 過 /有 … 过 (yǒu ... guò / jau⁵ ... gwo³, “has […] before”).
Meanings
(dialectal, informal) Shortening of every
Queen Anne's lace ever place you look. 2011, Lee Smith, Oral History, →ISBN:
A sign at the entrance to the road going up Snake Hollow reads, “Snake Hollow is a wonderful place to be, Ever place you look there is a beautiful green tree. Snake Hollow makes you feel alive and free.” Lets keep it that way, for you and me. 2011, Michael Blair, Nub and Bow in History, page 27:
"Ever place you look there's houses and more houses." 1989, Connie Jordan Green, The War at Home, page 16: