From Middle Englisheven, from Old Englishefn(“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 West Frisianeven(“even”), Low Germaneven(“even”), Dutcheven(“even, equal, same”), effen, Germaneben(“even, flat, level”), Danishjævn(“even, flat, smooth”), Swedishjämn(“even, level, smooth”), Icelandicjafn, jamn(“even, equal”), Old Cornisheun(“equal, right”) (attested in Vocabularium Cornicum eun-hinsic(“iustus, i. e., just”)), Old Bretoneun(“equal, right”) (attested in Eutychius Glossary eunt(“aequus, i. e., equal”)), Middle Bretoneffn, Bretoneeun, Sanskritअम्नस्(amnás, “(adverb) just, just now; at once”).
The verb descends from Middle Englishevenen, from Old Englishefnan; the adverb from Middle Englishevene, from Old Englishefne.
The traditional proposal connecting the Germanic adjective with the root Proto-Indo-European*h₂eym-, (Latinimāgō(“picture, image, likeness, copy”), Latinaemulus(“competitor, rival”), Sanskritयमस्(yamás, “pair, twin”)) is problematic from a phonological point of view.
Adjective
even (comparativemore even, superlativemost even)
Flat and level.
Without great variation.
Equal in proportion, quantity, size, etc.
(not comparable, of an integer) Divisible by two.
(of a number) Convenient for rounding other numbers to; for example, ending in a zero.
On equal monetary terms; neither owing nor being owed.
(colloquial) On equal terms of a moral sort; quits.
Parallel; on a level; reaching the same limit.
'
(obsolete) Without an irregularity, flaw, or blemish; pure.
(obsolete) Associate; fellow; of the same condition.
c. 1382–1395, John Wycliffe, Bible - Matthew 18.29
His even servant.
Usage notes
Because of confusion with the "divisible by two" sense, use of even to mean "convenient for rounding" is rare; the synonym round is more common for this sense.
Synonyms
(flat and level):flat, level, uniform; see also Thesaurus:smooth
(without great variation):regular, monotone(voice); see also Thesaurus:steady
(equal):level, on par; see also Thesaurus:equal
(convenient for rounding):round
(on equal monetary terms):quits(colloquial, UK)
(on equal moral terms):quits, square
Antonyms
(antonym(s) of "flat and level"):uneven
(antonym(s) of "divisible by two"):odd
Derived terms
Translations
Verb
even (third-person singular simple presentevens, present participleevening, simple past and past participleevened)
(transitive) To make flat and level.
(transitive, obsolete) To equal or equate; to make the same.
(intransitive, obsolete) To be equal.
(transitive, obsolete) 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.
(transitive, obsolete) To set right; to complete.
(transitive, obsolete) To act up to; to keep pace with.
Synonyms
(to make flat and level):flatten, level
(to equal):match
(to place in an equal state):settle
Derived terms
Translations
Adverb
even (not comparable)
(archaic) Exactly, just, fully.
In reality; implying an extreme example in the case mentioned, as compared to the implied reality.
Emphasizing a comparative.
Signalling a correction of one's previous utterance; rather, that is.
Synonyms
(exactly, just, fully):definitely, precisely; see also Thesaurus:exactly
(implying extreme example):so much as
(correction to previous utterance): See Thesaurus:in other words
Derived terms
Translations
Noun
even (pluralevens)
(mathematics, diminutive) An even number.
Translations
References
Etymology 2
From Middle Englisheven, from Old Englishǣfen, from Proto-Germanic*ēbanþs.
Cognate with Dutchavond, Low GermanAvend, GermanAbend, Danishaften. See also the related terms eve and evening.
Noun
even (pluralevens)
(archaic or poetic) Evening.
Synonyms
evening, eventide; see also Thesaurus:evening
Derived terms
evenfall
evensong
yestereven
Related terms
eve
evening
Translations
Anagrams
Neve, eevn, neve, névé
Chinese
Etymology
From Englisheven or even if or even though.
Pronunciation
Conjunction
even
(Hong Kong Cantonese, Taiwanese Mandarin) even though; even if
Even你只存在照片裡／Even你只存在照片里[Taiwanese Mandarin] ― Even nǐ zhǐ cúnzài zhàopiàn lǐ[Pinyin] ― Even though you only exist in pictures
Synonyms
Dutch
Alternative forms
effen(for the temporal senses of the adverb; colloquial; standard)
effe(for the temporal senses of the adverb; colloquial; non-standard)
ff(for the temporal senses of the adverb; slang, common chat abbreviation)
Etymology
From Middle Dutcheven, effen, from Old Dutch*evan, from Proto-West Germanic*ebn, from Proto-Germanic*ebnaz.
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /ˈeː.və(n)/
Hyphenation: even
Rhymes: -eːvən
Adverb
even
shortly, briefly
for a short period, for a while
for a moment; modal particle indicating that the speaker expects that something will require little time or effort.
just as, to the same degree (used with an adjective)
(Netherlands) quite, rather
Synonyms
eventjes
effentjes
Descendants
Javindo: efen
Negerhollands: even, eeven
→ Caribbean Javanese: éfe(via Sranan Tongo)
→ Kwinti: even
Adjective
even (not comparable)
even, opposite of odd
Inflection
Antonyms
oneven
Derived terms
evenals
Anagrams
veen
neve
Middle Dutch
Etymology
From Old Dutch*evan, from Proto-West Germanic*ebn, from Proto-Germanic*ebnaz.
Adjective
ēven
even, equal
Inflection
This adjective needs an inflection-table template.
Descendants
Dutch: even
Limburgish: aeve
Adverb
ēven
just as, equally
Descendants
Dutch: even
Further reading
“even (I)”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
“even (II)”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
Verwijs, E., Verdam, J. (1885–1929) “even (I)”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN, page I
Verwijs, E., Verdam, J. (1885–1929) “evene (I)”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN, page evene
Middle English
Etymology 1
From Old Englishefn, from Proto-West Germanic*ebn, from Proto-Germanic*ebnaz.
Alternative forms
evene, even, efen
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /ˈɛːvən/
Adverb
even
smoothly, evenly
impartially, justly
Descendants
English: even
Yola: e'en
References
“ēven, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
Etymology 2
From Old Englishǣfen, from Proto-West Germanic*ābanþ, from Proto-Germanic*ēbanþs.
Alternative forms
eve, aven, yeven
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /ˈɛːvə(n)/
Noun
even (pluralevenes)
eve
Descendants
English: eve, even
Scots: evin, ewin, e'en, een
Yola: eave
References
“ēve(n, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.