ever

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   At any time.

   Have you ever been to Japan?

2. 2
   adv

   Always; at all times.

   He remained ever loyal to his friends.

3. 3
   adv

   Very; used to make an adjective stronger.

   You were ever so kind to help us.

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”). 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”).

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