Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Even?

\E"ven\n. [OE. eve, even, efen, [ae]fen. AS. [=ae]fen; akin to OS. [=a]band, OFries, [=a]vend, D. avond, OHG. [=a]band, Icel. aptan, Sw. afton, Dan. aften; of unknown origin. Cf. {Eve}, {Evening}.] Evening. See {Eve}, n. 1. [Poetic.] --Shak.
\E"ven\, a. [AS. efen. efn; akin to OS. eban, D. even, OHG. eban, G. efen, Icel. jafn, Dan. jevn, Sw. j["a]mn, Goth. ibns. Cf. {Anent}, {Ebb}.] 1. 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. 2. Equable; not easily ruffed or disturbed; calm; uniformly self-possessed; as, an even temper. 3. Parallel; on a level; reaching the same limit. And shall lay thee even with the ground. --Luke xix. 44. 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. 5. Without an irregularity, flaw, or blemish; pure. ``I know my life so even.'' --Shak. 6. Associate; fellow; of the same condition. [Obs.] ``His even servant.'' --Wyclif (Matt. xviii. 29). 7. 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.
\E"ven\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Evened}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Evening}] 1. 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. 2. To equal [Obs.] ``To even him in valor.'' --Fuller. 3. 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. 4. To set right; to complete. 5. To act up to; to keep pace with. --Shak.
\E"ven\, v. i. To be equal. [Obs.] --R. Carew.
\E"ven\, adv. [AS. efne. See {Even}, a., and cf. {E'en}.] 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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.