even

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   used as an intensive especially to indicate something unexpected

   even an idiot knows that

2. 2
   adv

   to the full extent

   loyal even unto death

3. 3
   adj

   being level or straight or regular and without variation as e.g. in shape or texture

   or being in the same plane or at the same height as something else (i.e. even with)

4. 4
   adj

   symmetrically arranged

   even features

5. 5
   noun

   the latter part of the day; the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall

   I enjoyed the evening light across the lake.

6. 6
   verb

   become even or more even

   even out the surface

7. 7
   adj

   Flat and level.

   Clear out those rocks. The surface must be even.

8. 8
   adj

   Without great variation.

   Despite her fear, she spoke in an even voice.

Etymology

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 (“eve…