Middle English Dictionary Entry

ē̆ver adv.
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms ē̆ver adv. Also efre (early), aver, afre, er, ar(e, ȝavre, ȝer.
Etymology OE ǣfre.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1a.
Of a continuous state or action, or a general condition or practice: always; at all times, all the time, all the while; continually, constantly; invariably, consistently; regularly, uniformly.
Show 30 Quotations
1b.
Eternally, perpetually; without beginning, from eternity; -- as noun: eternity.
Show 9 Quotations
2.
Of recurring, repeated or habitual actions or events: again and again; everytime, on every occasion, in every instance; at regular times.
Show 18 Quotations
3.
With particularizing or generalizing force: at any particular time; at some time or other, at any time at all; -- freq. in cond. clause and in question.
Show 14 Quotations
4.
In any way or manner; under any circumstances, by any means; emphatic: altogether, at all; -- freq. in exclamatory clauses and in rhetorical questions.
Show 11 Quotations
5.
Of an increasing or decreasing action or state: progressively, continually; -- with the compar. or an expression of measure.
Show 7 Quotations
6.
In a statement of distributive proportion or arrangement: in every case or instance.
Show 4 Quotations
7a.
In a comparison: at any time, in any given situation, in any way or manner; (a) (as)..as ever; (b) than ever.
Show 14 Quotations
7b.
In a statement of progressive proportion, with comp. of adj. or adv.: in every instance; (a) ever so (as)..so..; (b) ever (the)..the, ever the..ever the, the..ever the; (c) ever the.
Show 24 Quotations
8.
Combs. and cpds. consisting of ever and a ppl. or ger.: (a) ever-bleving, eternal existence; (b) ever disclaundring; (c) ~ en)during; (d) ~ gnawing; (e) ~ lasting, q.v.; (f) ~ liking; (g) ~ living; (h) ~ loting, ever-lurking; (i) ~ oppressing; (j) ~ regning.
Show 12 Quotations
9.
Phrases beginning with ever: (a) ever (a) buten ende; (b) ~ after(ward; (c) ~ ai, forever; (d) ~ among, again and again, from time to time; always; here and there; (e) ~ and ay (o), ~ and ever, at all times, forever; in perpetuity, eternally; (f) ~ and oft; (g) ~ bifore; (h) ~ bitwene, every now and then; (i) ~ eft (more), ever afterward, ever since; (j) ~ forth, henceforth; (k) ~ forward nou, forever henceforth; (l) ~ iliche, invariably, constantly, unceasingly; (m) ~ in (on) on, at all times, all the time; continually or repeatedly, incessantly; eternally, forever; (n) ~ nou and nou, every now and then; (o) ~ mo(re, q.v.; (p) ~ sitthe(n, ever afterward, ever since; (q) ~ umbe stunde, every now and then, frequently; (r) ~ umbewhile = ~ umbe stunde; (s) ~ withouten ende, everlastingly, eternally; (t) ~ yet, always heretofore, at any time heretofore.
Show 68 Quotations
10.
Combs. of ever and a pron. or pron. adv.: (a) ever-aiwhere, everywhere, anywhere; (b) ever ani, ~ ei, any (at all); (c) ever-either, er-either, ever-auther, -other, either or each (of two); both; (d) ever ought, anything (at all); (e) everiwhere, q.v.; (f) ever where, anywhere (at all).
Show 26 Quotations
11.
Phrases consisting of a pron. or pron. adv. and ever, with generalizing or intensive force: (a) al that ~, what(so)ever; (b) hou so ~, hou that ~; (c) whan that ~; (d) what ~, what so (as) ~, what som ~, what that ~; (e) whennes ~; (f) where ~, where so ~, where som ~, where that ~; (g) whether so ~, whichever (of two); (h) which so ~, whichever, whoever; (i) whither ~, whither as (so) ~, whither that ~, whither som that ~; (j) who ~, who so ~, who (so) that ~.
Show 34 Quotations
12.
Phrases beginning with a prep.: (a) for ene and for ever, once for all, for good; (b) for ever, for all time, forever, in perpetuity; once for all, for good, permanently; (c) for ~ and ay (o), forever, eternally; (d) for evermore → evermore; (e) for nou and ~; (f) in ever, in eternity.
Show 22 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • c1475(a1400) Amadace (Tay 9)p.39 : Gode Sirs, haue ȝe no care, For ȝe mone haue maysturs euyrqware, As wele wurthi ȝe ar soe.
    • Note: Needed for date in sense 10.(f).
    Note: New sense: In every place, everywhere.
    Note: This quot. has been taken back to books.
  • a1500 Kavser of (Trin-C B.11.18)4 : A wile es in yov, my hartis lady dere, Treule as ye best, ryght so y me reporte, Youre servond to be day tyme and ere, Ryght as ye well.
    • Note: Quot belongs to sense 1a.
    Note: This quot. has been taken back to books.
  • c1425 Mirror LM&W (Hrl 45)146/10 : For right as a colt or anoþer wylde beste holdeþ euer his lyf þe manere þat he is daunted to in þe ȝougþe..right so it is of a childe þat is woned to gode þewes or to yeul in his ȝoungþe.
    • Note: Additional quot. for sense 1a.
  • c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)106/9 : Ylc mon sceolde æfre embe twelf monðe þone teoðe dæl his weorldæhtæ Gode syllen.
    • Note: Translation: 'Everyone should every twelve months give the 10th part of his worldly goods to God.'
    Note: Quot. needed for date in sense 9.(r).
    Note: Add phrase: ~ umbe twelve-month, every twelve months, every year.
    Note: This quot. has been taken back to books.
  • a1500(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Dub 213)727* : That oþer wy..wepys eueryllike, So hard & so hertly þat neȝ hys hert brestes.
    • Note: Aditional quot. for sense 9.(l).
    Note: This quot. has been taken back to books.
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--notes per MLL

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: The example from Owl & N. 1180 under sense 3 might be emended to an otherwise unattested adj. *wavre, = OE wǣfre 'itinerant, vagabond'; cp. ME waven and waveren vv. So M. Laing, "The Owl and the Nightingale: Five New Readings and Further Notes," Neuphilologische Mitteilungen 108:3 (2007), pp. 471-473. If true, the spelling 'ȝavre' disappears from the list of spellings.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1500 Jul.Artist.Recipes (Jul D.8) 139/21,22-23 : And ever among take out of þe pottis and grinde hyt to smal poudir on a stone and þanne put hit ageyn inne þi pot, and ever among stere hit upsodoune with þi ladil, and continue hit with esy fire.
    • Note: Postdates sense 9.(d).

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