Even
Even (ēv"'n) , noun
[Old English eve, even, efen, afen. Anglo-Saxon afen; akin to Old Saxon āband, OFries, āvend, Dutch avond, Old High German āband, Icelandic aptan, Swedish afton, Danish aften; of unknown origin. Compare Eve, Evening.]
Even , adjective
[Anglo-Saxon efen. efn; akin to Old Saxon eban, Dutch even, Old High German eban, German efen, Icelandic jafn, Danish jevn, Swedish jamn, Gothic ibns. Compare Anent, Ebb.]
1.
Level, smooth, or equal in surface; not rough; free from irregularities; hence uniform in rate of motion of action; as, even ground; an even speed; an even course of conduct.
2.
Equable; not easily ruffled or disturbed; calm; uniformly self-possessed; as, an even temper.
3.
Parallel; on a level; reaching the same limit.
And shall lay thee even with the ground.
4.
Balanced; adjusted; fair; equitable; impartial; just to both sides; owing nothing on either side; -- said of accounts, bargains, or persons indebted; as, our accounts are even; an even bargain.
To make the even truth in pleasure flow.
5.
Without an irregularity, flaw, or blemish; pure.
I know my life so even.
6.
Associate; fellow; of the same condition. [Obsolete]
His even servant.
7.
Not odd; capable of division by two without a remainder; -- said of numbers; as, 4 and 10 are even numbers.
Whether the number of the stars is even or odd.
Collocations (2)
On even ground , with equal advantage.
On even keel (Nautical) , in a level or horizontal position.
Even , transitive verb
1.
To make even or level; to level; to lay smooth.
His temple Xerxes evened with the soil.
It will even all inequalities
2.
To equal. [Obsolete]
To even him in valor.
3.
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; to make equal; as, to even the score. — Shakespeare
4.
To set right; to complete.
5.
To act up to; to keep pace with. — Shakespeare
Even , intransitive verb
To be equal. [Obsolete] — R. Carew
Even , adverb
[Anglo-Saxon efne. See Even, a., and compare E'en.]
1.
In an equal or precisely similar manner; equally; precisely; just; likewise; as well.
Is it even so?
Even so did these Gauls possess the coast.
2.
Up to, or down to, an unusual measure or level; so much as; fully; quite.
Thou wast a soldier
Even to Cato's wish.
Without... making us even sensible of the change.
3.
As might not be expected; -- serving to introduce what is unexpected or less expected.
I have made several discoveries, which appear new, even to those who are versed in critical learning.
4.
At the very time; in the very case.
I knew they were bad enough to please, even when I wrote them.
By these presence, even the presence of Lord Mortimer.
Even is sometimes used to emphasize a word or phrase. “I have debated even in my soul.”