What does "even" mean?
Even: [Poetic.] Shak.
Additional senses
- 2.Level, smooth, or equal in surface; not rough; free from irregularities; hence uniform in rate of motion of action; as, even ground; an even speed; an even course of conduct.
- 3.Equable; not easily ruffed or disturbed; calm; uniformly self- possessed; as, an even temper.
- 4.Parallel; on a level; reaching the same limit. And shall lay thee even with the ground. Luke xix.
- 5.4. Balanced; adjusted; fair; equitable; impartial; just to both side; owing nothing on either side; -- said of accounts, bargains, or persons indebted; as, our accounts are even; an even bargain. To make the even truth in pleasure flow. Shak.
- 6.Without an irregularity, flaw, or blemish; pure. "I know my life so even." Shak.
- 7.Associate; fellow; of the same condition. [Obs.] "His even servant." Wyclif (Matt.
- 8.Not odd; capable of division by two without a remainder; -- said of numbers; as, 4 and 10 are even numbers. Whether the number of the stars is even or odd. Jer. Taylor. On even ground, with equal advantage. -- On even keel (Naut.), in a level or horizontal position.
- 9.To make even or level; to level; to lay smooth. His temple Xerxes evened with the soil. Sir. W. Raleigh. It will even all inequalities Evelyn.
- 10.To equal [Obs.] "To even him in valor." Fuller.
- 11.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. Shak.
- 12.To set right; to complete.
- 13.To act up to; to keep pace with. Shak.
- 14.To be equal. [Obs.] R. Carew.
- 15.In an equal or precisely similar manner; equally; precisely; just; likewise; as well. "Is it even so" Shak. Even so did these Gauls possess the coast. Spenser.
- 16.Up to, or down to, an unusual measure or level; so much as; fully; quite. Thou wast a soldier Even to Cato's wish. Shak. Without . . . making us even sensible of the change. Swift.
- 17.As might not be expected; -- serving to introduce what is unexpected or less expected. I have made several discoveries, which appear new, even to those who are versed in critical learning. Addison.
- 18.At the very time; in the very case. I knew they were had enough to please, even when I wrote them. Dryden. Note: Even is sometimes used to emphasize a word or phrase. "I have debated even in my soul." Shak. By these presence, even the presence of Lord Mortimer. Shak.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00