Middle English Dictionary Entry

either pron.
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms either pron. Also eider, ethir, euther; (early) æȝþer.
Etymology OE ǣghwæþer, ǣgþer.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

Note: Cp. outher pron.
1.
(a) Both (of two), both things, both persons;--also as adj.; (b) all (of more than two), one and all, every, any; (c) either..and, ~..ge, ~ge..and, ~ge..ge, both..and; not only..but also.
Show 28 Quotations
2a.
(a) Each of two, each one; (b) as adj.: each.
Show 43 Quotations
2b.
(a) her ~, their ~, each of them, each of the two; our ~, each of us two; unker ~, your ~, each of you two; ereither = her either or?ever either; (b) ever ~, each, either, both (emphatic).
Show 27 Quotations
2c.
(a) either..other, each..the other; (b) either other, each other, both, one another, each the other; (c) either after other, in turn, in succession; (d) either in other, mutually.
Show 39 Quotations
3.
(a) Either (of two), either (alternative); (b) as emphatic adv.: also, too.
Show 14 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section are incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--notes per MLL

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