even

even
I. noun Etymology: Middle English even, eve, from Old English ǣfen Date: before 12th century archaic evening II. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Old English efen; akin to Old High German eban even Date: before 12th century 1. a. having a horizontal surface ; flat <
even ground
>
b. being without break, indentation, or irregularity ; smooth c. being in the same plane or line 2. a. free from variation ; uniform <
his disposition was even
>
b. level 4 3. a. equal, fair <
an even exchange
>
b. (1) leaving nothing due on either side ; square <
we will not be even until you repay my visit
>
(2) fully revenged c. being in equilibrium ; balanced; specifically showing neither profit nor loss d. obsolete candid 4. a. being any of the integers (as -2, 0, and +2) that are exactly divisible by two b. marked by an even number c. being a mathematical function such that f(x) = f(-x) where the value remains unchanged if the sign of the independent variable is reversed 5. exact, precise <
an even dollar
>
6. as likely as not ; fifty-fifty <
an even chance of winning
>
Synonyms: see level, steadyevenly adverbevenness noun III. adverb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English efne, from efen, adjective Date: before 12th century 1. a. exactly, precisely b. to a degree that extends ; fully, quite <
faithful even unto death
>
c. at the very time <
raining even as the sun came out
>
2. a. — used as an intensive to emphasize the identity or character of something <
he looked content, even happy
>
<
forgot his car keys and even left the engine running
>
b. — used as an intensive to stress an extreme or highly unlikely condition or instance <
so simple even a child can do it
>
c. — used as an intensive to stress the comparative degree <
she did even better
>
d. — used as an intensive to indicate a small or minimum amount <
didn't even try
>
IV. verb (evened; evening) Date: 13th century transitive verb to make even intransitive verb to become even • evener noun

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • even — even1 [ē′vən] adj. [ME < OE efne, efen, akin to Ger eben, Goth ibns < ? IE base * yem , hold together > MIr emon, twins] 1. flat; level; smooth [even country] 2. not irregular; not varying; uniform; constant [an even tempo] 3. calm;… …   English World dictionary

  • Even — E ven, a. [AS. efen. efn; akin to OS. eban, D. even, OHG. eban, G. efen, Icel. jafn, Dan. jevn, Sw. j[ a]mn, Goth. ibns. Cf. {Anent}, {Ebb}.] 1. Level, smooth, or equal in surface; not rough; free from irregularities; hence uniform in rate of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • even — Ⅰ. even [1] ► ADJECTIVE 1) flat and smooth; level. 2) equal in number, amount, or value. 3) having little variation in quality; regular. 4) equally balanced: the match was even. 5) (of a person s temper or disposition) placid; calm. 6) …   English terms dictionary

  • even — e‧ven [ˈiːvn] adjective 1. staying at the same level, rather than frequently changing from one level to the other: • Strong trade will encourage more even selling. 2. giving two sides, things, ideas etc equal or fair treatment: • We should try… …   Financial and business terms

  • even — even; even·er; even·ly; even·ness; even·tra·tion; even·tual; even·tu·al·i·ty; even·tu·al·ly; even·tu·ate; un·even; break·even; even·hand·ed·ly; even·hand·ed·ness; even·tu·a·tion; …   English syllables

  • even — is normally placed immediately before the word or phrase that it qualifies: Doctors must pursue costly and even dangerous investigations / She is talking even more loudly / He even enrolled in a business studies course. In some cases even… …   Modern English usage

  • even if — phrase used for emphasizing that although something may happen or may be true, another situation remains the same He’s determined to prove his innocence, even if he has to go to the highest court in the land. Thesaurus: words used to describe… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Even — E ven, adv. [AS. efne. See {Even}, a., and cf. {E en}.] 1. In an equal or precisely similar manner; equally; precisely; just; likewise; as well. Is it even so? Shak. [1913 Webster] Even so did these Gauls possess the coast. Spenser. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • even — [adj1] flat, uniform alike, balanced, consistent, constant, continual, continuous, direct, equal, flush, homogenous, horizontal, level, matching, metrical, parallel, planate, plane, plumb, proportional, regular, right, same, smooth, square,… …   New thesaurus

  • Even — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Anat Even (* 1960), israelische Regisseurin Bert Even (* 1925), deutscher Politiker, Präsident des Bundesverwaltungsamtes Jean Even (1910 1986), französischer Maler und Plakatmaler Johannes Even… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Even — E ven, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Evened}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Evening}] 1. To make even or level; to level; to lay smooth. [1913 Webster] His temple Xerxes evened with the soil. Sir. W. Raleigh. [1913 Webster] It will even all inequalities Evelyn. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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