even 1
— evener , n. — evenly , adv. — evenness , n.
/ee"veuhn/ , adj.
1. level; flat; without surface irregularities; smooth: an even road.
2. on the same level; in the same plane or line; parallel: even with the ground.
3. free from variations or fluctuations; regular: even motion.
4. uniform in action, character, or quality: to hold an even course.
5. equal in measure or quantity: Add even amounts of oil and vinegar.
6. divisible by two, as a number (opposed to odd ).
7. denoted by such a number: the even pages of a book.
8. exactly expressible in integers, or in tens, hundreds, etc., without fractional parts: an even seven miles.
9. Math. (of a function) having a sign that remains the same when the sign of each independent variable is changed at the same time.
10. equally balanced or divided; equal: Check to see if the scales are even.
11. leaving no balance of debt on either side; square: We will not be even until I can repay him for saving my life.
12. calm; placid; not easily excited or angered: an even temper.
13. equitable, impartial, or fair: an even bargain.
adv.
14. evenly: The road ran even over the fields.
15. still; yet (used to emphasize a comparative): even more suitable.
16. (used to suggest that something mentioned as a possibility constitutes an extreme case or an unlikely instance): Even the slightest noise disturbs him. Even if he attends, he may not participate.
17. just (used to emphasize occurrence, coincidence, or simultaneousness of occurrences): Even as he lay dying, they argued over his estate.
18. fully or quite: even to death.
19. indeed (used as an intensive for stressing the identity or truth of something): He is willing, even eager, to do it.
20. exactly or precisely: It was even so.
21. break even , to have one's profits equal one's losses; neither gain nor lose: The company barely broke even last year.
22. get even , to be revenged; retaliate: He vowed to get even for the insult.
v.t.
23. to make even; level; smooth (sometimes fol. by out ): to even a board with a plane.
24. to place in an even state as to claim or obligation; balance (often fol. by up ): to even up accounts.
v.i.
25. to become even: The odds evened before the race.
26. even out ,
a. to make or become even, smooth, or flat: The wrinkles will even out when the suit dries.
b. to become equal, balanced, stable, etc.: optimistic that the situation would even out eventually.
[ bef. 900; (adj.) ME; OE efen; c. Goth ibns, OHG eban, ON jafn even, equal; (adv.) ME even ( e ), OE efne, deriv. of the adj.; (v.) ME evenen, OE efnan to lower, deriv. of the adj. ]
Syn. 1. plane. See level. 12. tranquil, temperate, composed, peaceful. 13. just.
Ant. 1. irregular. 12. mercurial. 13. biased.
even 2
/ee"veuhn/ , n. Archaic.
evening; eve.
[ bef. 950; ME; OE aefen; akin to G Abend, OFris evend. See EVENING ]