even

comparative evener · comparative more even · superlative evenest · superlative most even · alternative eben · alternative e'en

1. Flat and level.

   Clear out those rocks. The surface must be even.

   Synonyms: flat

2. Without great variation.

   Despite her fear, she spoke in an even voice.

   Synonyms: regular

3. Equal in proportion, quantity, size, etc.

   Call it even.

   1 more example

   The distribution of food must be even.

4. not comparablemathematicsOf an integer, divisible by two.

   Four, fourteen and forty are even numbers.

5. informalOf a number, convenient for rounding other numbers to; for example, ending in a zero.

   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

   1 more example

   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

   Synonyms: round

6. On equal monetary terms; neither owing nor being owed.

   Synonyms: quits

7. colloquialOn 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. obsoleteWithout 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. obsoleteAssociate; fellow; of the same condition.

    His even servant.

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

plural evens · alternative eben · alternative e'en

1. diminutivemathematicsAn even number.

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

alternative eben · alternative e'en

1. archaicnot comparableExactly; just; fully.

   You are leaving tonight? — Even so.

   3 more examples

   I fulfilled my instructions even as I had promised.

   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

   Synonyms: definitely

2. not comparableIn reality (used to imply an extreme example in the case mentioned).

   That was before I was even born.

   5 more examples

   Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn sometimes.

   Did you even make it through the front door?

   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

   Synonyms: so much as

3. not comparableUsed to emphasise a comparative.

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

   Synonyms: still

4. not comparableUsed to indicate a further degree of comparison.

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

5. not comparableRather; that is (used to signal a correction of a previous utterance).

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

   Synonyms: in other words

present singular third person evens · participle present evening · participle past evened · past evened · alternative eben · alternative e'en

1. transitiveTo make flat and level.

   We need to even this playing field; the west goal is too low.

   2 more examples

   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)

   [...] 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

   Synonyms: flatten, level

2. obsoletetransitiveTo 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

   1 more example

   “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. intransitiveobsoleteTo be equal.

   Thrice nine evens twenty seven.

   1 more example

   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. obsoletetransitiveTo 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.

   1 more example

   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

   Synonyms: settle

5. obsoletetransitiveTo set right; to complete.
6. obsoletetransitiveTo 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

plural evens · alternative eben · alternative e'en

1. archaicpoeticEvening.

   We'll meet at even, when the sun is set.

   3 more examples

   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

   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

1. A Tungusic language spoken by the Evens in Siberia and the Russian Far East.

   Synonyms: Lamut

plural Evens

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