Middle English Dictionary Entry

ēven adv.
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
2.
3.
(a) Of the scales of a balance: in equilibrium; (b) in alignment; (c) even with, alongside, abreast of.
4.
Straight, directly; due (east, etc.).
5.
(a) So as to be equal in size; (b) in equal portions or shares; iliche even; (c) in equal degree or measure; equally with.
6.
By or in even numbers.
7a.
Of position in space: exactly, right, just, directly, squarely; exactly (perpendicular, etc.); also fig.
7b.
Of position in time: exactly, just; even as, just as; even tho, just then; even at, even with, exactly at the same time, concomitantly with; even forthmid (forthwith), immediately; just now, but now.
7c.
Of position in a series: exactly.
7d.
Of number, magnitude, quantity: exactly, precisely.
7e.
7f.
Of manner or condition: exactly, just;-- often with as, so, thus.
8.
(a) Fully, completely; quite; (b) even to (into), all the way to, right into (a certain place).
9.
As an emphatic: in fact, indeed.
10.
Calmly, coolly; setten wordes even, to speak calmly.
11.
12.
(a) In the right or proper degree; (b) cook. in the right amount, as needed.
13.
14.
So as to be equally well qualified; on equal or even terms; even mached, equally well qualified, evenly matched.
15.
Uniformly, consistently, steadily.
16.
Phrases consisting of even and an adj., adv. or prep.: (a) even ayeyn(es, directly opposite, in front of, in direct opposition to; (b) even contrarie, directly opposite, just the opposite; (c) even est, due east; (d) even forthright, exactly straight; (e) even forthrighten, in regular sequence; (f) even foryeines, directly opposite; (g) even in on, in exact agreement; (h) even on, throughout, everywhere; (i) even over, throughout, everywhere; (j) even overthwart, straight across; (k) even so, likewise; (1) even thurgh, all the way through; (m) even upright, straight up, upright, exactly vertical; (n) even up thurgh, all the way up.
17.
Compounds: (a) even-corneledli, at right angles; (b) even-eche [OE efenēce], coeternal; (c) even-edwistli [OE efenedwistlīc], consubstantial; (d) even-fela, emfela [OE efenfela, em-], equally much; (e) even-high, emhigh, equal in rank; (f) even-iweie [cp. OE efenwǣge and ȝewǣȝe], of equal weight; (g) evene-joinant, immediately adjoining; (h) even-loved, equally loved; (i) even-mete, equal (in rank, size); of the right size; (j) even-meten (ppl.), comparable, like; (k) even-mighti, of equal power; (l) even-michel, emmichel [OE efenmicel, em-], equally much; (m) even-much, equally great; (n) even-old, -eld, -ald, of the same age; (o) even-plain, level (with the ground); (p) even-rike, equally powerful; (q) even-right, straight, directly; ?righteously; (r) even-streight, straight; (s) even-strengthed, of equal strength; (t) even-voiced, ambiguous; (u) even-voiceli, equivocally, i.e. in two or more senses; (v) even-worth, of equal value; adequate, sufficient; (w) even-worthi, of equal worth, comparable; (x) even-worthili, in adequate measure or degree.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1400 Trin-C O.9.39 Recipes (Trin-C O.9.39) 10/28 : Seþe hit wel with his duwe proporcioun of oolde vryne byfore soden, and skome hit riȝt euene in alle maneres poyntes as þu woldist make þeroffe fyne synoper.
  • a1500 Trin-C.R.14.45 Recipes (Trin-C R.14.45) 137/23 : Swage þin skynne þerwiþ wele and clene on þe fleisshe syde, alwey uppe and doune until hit be also even als any oþer maner rede lassche.
  • Note: Additional quots., prob. sense 7f.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.47vb (2.6) : When þe lesse nombre of þe ȝere of our Lord may be diuisede into 4 parties euen alike, þe nexte Seynt Mathies day folwend schal be bisexte.
  • Note: Additional quot., prob. sense 5.(b). Editor's gloss: 'evenly, equally'.
  • ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)[ref here] : At þe hert he [the aorta] diuiseþ him into 2 braunches: on goþ to þe lunges & fro þe lunges forth to þe riȝt honde, noȝt euen streiȝt but awrang; þe toþer branche goþ euen streiȝt to þe lefte hande.
  • Note: Additional quot., sense 17.(r). Editor's gloss: '~ streiȝt 'directly, in a straight line'.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1400 Usages Win.(Win-HRO W/A3/1)p.88 : Þe writ þat me pledeth in þe citee by-fore justyces oþer by-fore baylyues of þe towne beþ empne [vr. beþ euene; F sunt ceus]: wrytes of newe dysseysyne and of alle justyces, owt-nome ȝeres rente.
  • Note: New subsense: 8.(c) ?fully, in all.--per SMK
    Note: Or perh. quot. belongs to sense 9. with new subsense (b) "namely, specifically."--per MLL
    Note: This quot. has been taken back to books.
  • c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)25b/a : The cristallyn humour, whanne he is biwrappid in humor vitreus & albymenus..is sett euene riȝt in þe myddil of hem.
  • Note: Quot. belongs to sense 17.(q). Add gloss "exactly".--per REL
    Note: This quot. has been taken back to books.
  • (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.13.14 : Þe lord seide to Abram..'heue vp þin eyȝen euenriȝt & see from þe place in which þou art now to þe north & souþ.'
  • Note: Additional quot.
    Note: Quot. belongs to sense 17.(q) ("straight, directly").--per JR
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section is incomplete and needs revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED. (These two forms, among others: evene, empne.)--per MLL