Etymology : Middle English even, eve, from Old English [AE]fen
Pronunciation : E-v&n
Function : noun
Date : before 12th century
1. become even; make even; make level, smooth; balance. smooth, straight, level; parallel; equal; uniform; consistent; calm, not easily excited or angered; fair; divisible by two, able to be divided exactly by two (Mathematics). adyet, still. we do not owe each other, a wash, call it square I owe you $20, but I gave you a haircut, so we're even. even\e"ven\ n. [oe. eve, even, efen, ?fen. as. &aemacr;fen; akin to os. āband, ofries, āvend, d. avond, ohg. āband, icel. aptan, sw. afton, dan. aften; of unknown origin. cf. eve, evening.] evening. see:
eve, n.
2. [poetic.]even \e"ven\ , v. t. [imp. & p. p. evened ; p. pr. & vb. n. evening ].
3. to make even or level; to level; to lay smooth. his temple xerxes evened with the soil. w. raleigh. it will even all inequalities.
4. to equal [obs.] "to even him in valor.".
5. 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.
6. to set right; to complete.
7. to act up to; to keep pace with.even \e"ven\, a. [as. efen. efn; akin to os. eban, d. even, ohg. eban, g. efen, icel. jafn, dan. jevn, sw. j?mn, goth. ibns. cf. anent, ebb.].
8. 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.
9. equable; not easily ruffed or disturbed; calm; uniformly self-possessed; as, an even temper.
10. parallel; on a level; reaching the same limit. and shall lay thee even with the ground.
11. 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.
12. without an irregularity, flaw, or blemish; pure. "i know my life so even.".
13. associate; fellow; of the same condition. [obs.] "his even servant." (matt. xviii. 29).
14. 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. taylor.
15. Evening.
16. See Eve, n. 1.
17. 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.
18. Equable; not easily ruffed or disturbed; calm; uniformly self-possessed; as, an even temper.
19. Parallel; on a level; reaching the same limit.
20. 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.
21. Without an irregularity, flaw, or blemish; pure.
22. Associate; fellow; of the same condition.
23. Not odd; capable of division by two without a remainder; said of numbers; as, 4 and 10 are even numbers.
24. To make even or level; to level; to lay smooth.
25. To equal.
26. 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.
27. To set right; to complete.
28. To act up to; to keep pace with.
29. To be equal.
30. In an equal or precisely similar manner; equally; precisely; just; likewise; as well.
31. Up to, or down to, an unusual measure or level; so much as; fully; quite.
32. As might not be expected; serving to introduce what is unexpected or less expected.
33. At the very time; in the very case. make even or more even become even or more even; "even out the surface" equal in degree or extent or amount; or equally matched or balanced; "even amounts of butter and sugar"; "on even terms"; "it was a fifty-fifty split"; "had a fifty-fifty chance"; "an even fight" divisible by two occurring at fixed intervals; "a regular beat"; "the even rhythm of his breathing" symmetrically arranged; "even features"; "regular features"; "a regular polygon" used as an intensive especially to indicate something unexpected; "even an idiot knows that"; "declined even to consider the idea"; "I don't have even a dollar!" to a greater degree or extent; used with comparisons; "looked sick and felt even worse"; "an even more interesting problem"; "still another problem must be solved"; "a yet sadder tale" in spite of; notwithstanding; "even when he is sick, he works"; "even with his head start she caught up with him" to the full extent; "loyal even unto death".