even

even¹

—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.

even²

/ee"veuhn/, n. Archaic.

evening; eve.

[bef. 950; ME; OE aefen; akin to G Abend, OFris evend. See EVENING]

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▪ people

also spelled  Evens,  also called  Lamut,  

      northern Siberian people (12,000 according to the 1979 Soviet census) closely related to the Evenk (q.v.) in origin, language, and culture. They inhabit the territory to the north and northeast of the Evenki Autonomous Okrug, where they have influenced and have in turn been influenced by their neighbours. The Even who settled on Kamchatka learned and practiced Chukchi traits; those who mixed with the Yukaghirs (Yukaghir) created an Even-Yukaghir population that is bilingual. Other peoples related by similar ties include the Dolgan, who are a nomadic reindeer-breeding group, and the riverine Negidals, who are primarily fishermen and hunters.

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