E"ven (?) n. [OE. eve, even, efen, aefen. AS. �xd6;fen; akin to OS. aband, OFries, avend, D. avond, OHG. aband, Icel. aptan, Sw. afton, Dan. aften; of unknown origin. Cf. Eve, Evening.] Evening. See Eve, n. 1.
[Poetic.]
Shak.
© Webster 1913.
E"ven, a. [AS. efen. efn; akin to OS. eban, D. even, OHG. eban, G. efen, Icel. jafn, Dan. jevn, Sw. jamn, 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.).
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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.
E"ven (?), v. i.
To be equal.
[Obs.]
R. Carew.
© Webster 1913.
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.
⇒ 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.
© Webster 1913.