each

each
/eech/, adj.
1. every one of two or more considered individually or one by one: each stone in a building; a hallway with a door at each end.
2. every one individually; each one: Each had a different solution to the problem.
adv.
3. to, from, or for each; apiece: They cost a dollar each.
[bef. 900; ME eche, OE aelc, equiv. to a ever (see AY1) + (ge)lic ALIKE; c. OHG eo-gilih, OFris ellik, D, LG elk]
Syn. 1. EACH, EVERY are alike in having a distributive meaning. Of two or more members composing an aggregate, EACH directs attention to the separate members in turn: Each child (of those considered and enumerated) received a large apple. EVERY emphasizes inclusiveness or universality: Every child (of all in existence) likes to play.
Usage. The adjective EACH is always followed by a singular noun: each person; each book. When the adjective follows a plural subject, the verb agrees with the subject: They each dress in different styles. The houses each have central heating. When the pronoun EACH comes immediately before the verb, it always takes a singular verb: Each comes (not come) from a different country. When the pronoun is followed by an of phrase containing a plural noun or pronoun, there is a tendency for the verb to be plural: Each of the candidates has (or have) spoken on the issue. Some usage guides maintain that only the singular verb is correct, but plural verbs occur frequently even in edited writing.
It is also sometimes said that the pronoun EACH must always be referred to by a singular pronoun, but again actual usage does not regularly observe this stricture: Each member of our garden club had their own special interests. In the most formal speech and writing, singular verbs and pronouns occur more frequently than plural: Each member ... had his own special interests. The use of plural forms, especially plural pronouns, has been increasing in the United States, partially because of the desire to avoid using he or his to refer to a female.
ANYONE, ANYBODY, EVERYONE, EVERYBODY, NO ONE, SOMEONE, and SOMEBODY follow the same general patterns of pronoun agreement as EACH. See also they.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Synonyms:
(of two), , (archaic and poetical), , , / (of several),


Look at other dictionaries:

  • each — W1S1 [i:tʃ] determiner, pron, adv [: Old English; Origin: Alc] 1.) every one of two or more things or people, considered separately →↑every ▪ She had a bottle in each hand. ▪ Grill the fish for five minutes on each side. ▪ Each member of the team …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • each — [ itʃ ] function word, quantifier *** Each can be used in the following ways: as a determiner (followed by a singular countable noun): in each corner of the room as a pronoun: three windows, with a different view from each (followed by of ): I… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • each — 1. singular or plural. Each is treated as singular when it stands by itself as a pronoun, when it comes before a singular noun (each house), and when it is followed by of and a plural noun (each of the houses): • Each group is responsible for its …   Modern English usage

  • Each — ([=e]ch), a. or a. pron. [OE. eche, [ae]lc, elk, ilk, AS. [ae]lc; [=a] always + gel[=i]c like; akin to OD. iegelik, OHG. [=e]ogil[=i]h, MHG. iegel[=i]ch, G. jeglich. [root]209. See 3d {Aye}, {Like}, and cf. {Either}, {Every}, {Ilk}.] 1. Every one …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • each — adj every, *all each adv Each, apiece, severally, individually, respectivelyare comparable when they refer to every one of the many or several persons or things comprising a group. All imply distribution. Each and apiece usually connote equality… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • each — [ēch] adj., pron. [ME ech, elc, each, every < OE ælc < * agilic, akin to OHG iogilith (Ger jeglich) < PGmc * aiw galic: see AYE1 & ALIKE] every one of two or more considered separately [each (one) of you will be notified] adv. apiece… …   English World dictionary

  • each — [adj] every all, any, exclusive, individual, one by one*, particular, personal, piece by piece*, respective, separate, several, single, specific, various, without exception; concept 577 Ant. none each [adv] apiece; for one all, a pop*, a shot*,… …   New thesaurus

  • each — O.E. ælc any, all, every, each (one), short for a gelic ever alike, from a ever (see AYE (Cf. aye) (2)) + gelic alike (see LIKE (Cf. like) (adj.)). From a common West Germanic expression *aiwo galika (Cf. Du. elk, O.Fris …   Etymology dictionary

  • each — ► DETERMINER & PRONOUN ▪ every one of two or more people or things, regarded and identified separately. ► ADVERB ▪ to, for, or by every one of a group. ● each and every Cf. ↑each and every ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • EACH — is an acronym that may refer to: *European Association for Communication in Healthcare *Educational Action Challenging Homophobia *European Association for sick Children in Hospitals …   Wikipedia

  • each — index respectively Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

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