Each

a. (quasi-pron.) Forms: α. 1 ǽlc, œlc, 2–3 ælc, ælch, 3 alc, alch, 1–2 elc, 2–3 elch, (2 helch, 3 elhc), 2 ach(e, (ec), 3 æche, 3–6 ech(e, 5–6 eich, eyche, eache, 6– each. β. 1 ylc, 3–4 ilc, (3 il), 3–5 ilk(e, (3 Orm. illc, illk), 6– Sc. (see ILK). γ. 2 ulch, 3–4 ilch(e, 5 ylche, 2, 4–5 uch(e, 4–6 ich(e, 5–6 ych(e. δ. 1 ʓehwilc, -hwelc, -hwylc, 2 iwilch (iwil, iwi), iwulc(h, uwilch, (uwlch, uwil), (3 Orm. iwhillc), 4 uich. ε. 1 ǽʓ- (œʓ-, éʓ-)hwilc, -hwelc, -hwylc, -wylc, 2 aiʓhwilc, ewilch, eilc, 3 ewc (accus. eulne), 2–4 euch, 5 (Norf.) euych. [The historical forms inseparable from this word represent three distinct but nearly synonymous words in OE.

  1.  OE. ǽlc, app. = OFris. ellîk, elk, êk, Du. elk, OHG. eogilîh (MHG. iegelîh, mod.G. jeglich):—WGer. phrase *aiwo(n galîko-z, corresp. to OE. á ʓelíc (see A adv., AY and ALIKE). The phrase may perhaps best be explained as evolved from the adverbial *aiwo(n galîkô ‘ever alike,’ = the frequent OHG. eogilîcho. In OE. (as in OFris. and Du.) the second word seems to have lost the prefix ʓe-, and the i of *á-líc, *álic, produced the umlaut in the first syllable. (See, however, 3 below.) The OE. ǽlc with long vowel is perhaps the ancestor of our modern form; but already in the OE. period the vowel was dialectally shortened, and appears as ælc, elc, and ylc. The two former gave rise to such ME. forms as alc(h, ache, elch; the OE. ylc seems to be recorded only in the (Mercian) Vesp. Psalter, but must have been widely diffused, as it became in southern ME. ulch (ü), ilch, in west midland uch (ü), ich, and in east midland and north. ILK, which still survives in north. dial. and in Sc. (In Havelok the form ilc, ilk is occas. reduced to il before a cons.)

  2.  OE. ʓehwilc = OHG. gihwelîh (see Y- and WHICH). This is the source of early ME. iwilch, iwulch, probably also of uwilch, uich; it is possible also that the 14–15th c. uch(e may be from this source instead of being a continuation of the earlier uch (ü) from OE. ylc. (Layamon writes iwildel, iwidel for iwilc del: similarly the Lambeth Homilies have uwil before cons. and accus. uwilnc.)

  3.  OE. ǽʓ- (œʓ-, éʓ-)hwilc = OHG. eogihwelîh, f. WGer. *aiwo(n, OE. á, ó, AY, always + *gahwalīko-z = OE. ʓehwilc (see above). (The umlaut is supposed to be due to the i in ʓi-, earlier form of the prefix ʓe-.) This word seems to be represented in ME. by the forms ewilc (eulne for *eulcne accus. occurs once in Layamon), euych, eilc, ewc, euch; the forms eich, eyche, in 15–16th c. may possibly in some cases belong to this series rather than to α, to which they are referred above.]

  A.  Illustration of Forms.

  α.  c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter civ. 35. And sloʓ oelc frumbearn.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. vii. 17. Ælc god treow byrð gode wæstmas.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 13. Ic eou wulle werien wið elcne herm. Ibid., 75. Ec of heom wrat … his uers.

c. 1175.  Cott. Hom., 217. Þenche ȝie ælc word of him swete.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 29. Elch pine of helle is fremed on þre fold wise. Ibid., 31. Ðus deuel eggeð ælch man on his herte. Ibid., 91. Elhc cristene man makeð þis dai … processio. Ibid., 99. Eches mannes soule. Ibid., 145. Hie clensede heo seluen of ache synne.

c. 1205.  Lay., 13113. Wende æche oðer þat hit weoren heore broðer. Ibid., 14850. Habbe alc god mon his rihte. Ibid., 29056. We þe wulleð ȝelden sixti hundred punden to alches ȝeres firsten.

c. 1430.  Syr Gener., xxxiii. And eache a Prince bryng his semble.

a. 1500.  MS. Sloane No. 1986 f. 30, in Dom. Archit., III. 69. In haile make fyre at eyche a mele.

a. 1500.  Miracle Plays (1838), 17. Leeve you not this eich one?

1570.  B. Googe, Pop. Kingd., 1 b. Eche heart was then peruersely bent.

a. 1580.  Ld. Vaux, in Farr’s S. P., 303. Why doest thou put thy trust In things eiche made of clay, That soone will turn to dust?

1593.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., I. ii. (1611), 3. That which doth assigne vnto each thing the kinde.

  β.  c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter lxxvii[i]. 51. And sloʓ ylc frumbearn on eorðan.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 119. Ilk gres, ilc wurt, ilc birðhel tre.

a. 1300.  Havelok, 1740. Il man to þer he cam fro. Ibid., 2112. Of his mouth it com il del.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 584. Þus foul with-in ilk man es.

c. 1430.  Syr Tryam., 1511. At ylke stroke the fyre owt braste.

  γ.  c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 65. Ulche dei.

a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 90, in Cott. Hom., 165. Uches monnes þonc.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 181. Ilch man of his wise noteð his swinch.

1307.  Elegy Edw. I., xi. In uch bataille thou hadest pris.

c. 1330.  Arth. & Merl., 3666. Ich of hem wel noble was.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 35 (Trin.). Vche fruyt, þat men may fynde.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 431. Ilche man þat is ordeyned of God to be dampned.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 4046. Now wete yche wegh.

c. 1450.  Myrc, 416. Vche dayes bred.

1538.  Starkey, England, I. ii. § 3 (1871), 29. Ychone in hym selfe. Ibid., 38. Loue euery man iche other.

  δ.  c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter xi[i]. 2. Ða idlan spreocende is anra ʓehwelc to ðæm nestan.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 11. Halden from uwilche swinke. Ibid., 13. Uwil mon. Ibid., 17. God … hauet ihaten uwilne … mon. Ibid., 121. Seh ut on iwulche half. Ibid., 133. Wið iwilche cristene monne þe he to sendeð his halie iwriten.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 10784. Iwhillc man.

c. 1205.  Lay., 25664. Þat lond iwelde iwidel. Ibid., 25880. He þe awalt iwildel.

c. 1275.  Luve Ron, 125, in O. E. Misc., 97. Þarinne is vich balewes bote. Ibid., Pains of Hell, 151, ibid. 151. And heore ineward uych del … Eft heo werpeþ al in al.

  ε.  a. 1000.  Metr. Boeth., xiv. 9. Æʓhwelce dæʓ æcera þusend.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. vi. 34. Æʓhwylc [c. 1160 Hatton G. aiʓhwilc] dæʓ hæfð ʓenoh on hys aʓenum ymbhoʓan.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 17. Þet þu beode eilcmon al swa þu waldest þet me dude þe. Ibid., 93. Ewilcum of þan wurhtan.

c. 1205.  Lay., 596. Þe king … heihte eulne mon.

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 1231. On euch [Cotton MS. ewc] wise in þe world.

a. 1240.  Lofsong, in Cott. Hom., 205. On euche half abuten.

1480–7.  Prior of Bromholm, in Paston Lett., 856, III. 277. Euych on in length xj ȝerds.

  B.  Signification and uses.

  I.  As adj. used attrib.

  1.  Every (individual of a number) regarded or treated separately.

  The early use of each corresponded closely to the mod. use of its compound EVERY (= ever each), the only difference being that it has always been possible to use each when only two things are referred to. Thus a sentence with a sing. subject preceded by each would (formerly) have been but slightly if at all altered in meaning by the substitution of a plural subject preceded by all. In modern usage each has assumed the sense of the Lat. quisque, and implies a distribution of the predicate or object parallel with the distribution of the subject (or conversely). An exception to this rule results from the fact that we cannot use every when only two persons or things are spoken of, so that in this case each retains its original extended use.

  a.  followed immediately by a sb. (In OE. sometimes pl.; afterwards always sing.)

c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., I. 310. Ælce wunde hyt ʓehæleþ.

a. 1123.  O. E. Chron., an. 1101. Rotb’t ælce ʓeare sceolde … þreo þusend marc habban.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 581. Ilc wateres springe here strengðe undede.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 1488. Uch wiȝh þat it wist.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Serm., lxxxvii. Sel. Wks. I. 301. Ebreus clepen ech water a see.

c. 1420.  Sir Amadace, l. Iche mon in thayre degre.

1482.  Marg. Paston’s Will, in Lett., 861, III. 283. I wulle that ich houshold being my tenaunt there have vjd.

1598.  J. Dickenson, Greene in Conc. (1878), 153. The bodyes each-sicknesse may be expelled by choyce of symples.

1664.  Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 187. Gard’ners had need each Star as well to know … As Sea-men.

1742.  Young, Nt. Th., II. 286. Each night we die, Each morn are born anew.

1820.  Keats, Lamia, 572. Before each lucid panel fuming stood A censer.

1874.  Morley, Compromise (1886), 123. Each citizen of the latter is an incorporated member of the former.

  † b.  with a or an (one) before the sb. (= mod. each, every). Obs. (For Sc. examples see ILKA.)

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 87. Þet heo sculden offrien of elchan hiwscipe gode an lomb.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 5726. Illc an unnclene lusst.

a. 1300.  E. E. Psalter, lxxxviii[ix]. 13. In ilka land.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 511. Vch a burn of þis world worschipeþ him one.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XXIII. 19. He dronk of eche a diche.

1432.  Test. Ebor., II. (1855), 22. I wite to ilka prest … iiiijd.

c. 1456.  Tourn. Tottenham, 112, in Percy Reliq. In ycha stede ther thay me se.

  c.  with one used absol. (often distributing a pl. subject or object; cf. 4). In mod. use generally superseded by every one, or by each absol. For Sc. examples see ILKANE.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 127. Æt æʓhwylcum anum þara hongaþ leohtfæt.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 503. Þatt illc an shollde witenn wel.

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 57. Euchan bi his euene.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 1379. Him and ilc-on his kamel Wið watres drinc ghe quemede wel.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron., 165. With þo ladies ilkone.

c. 1340.  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 96. Leue vchon oþer.

1420.  E. E. Wills (1882), 52. I will þat ilkon off þe other thre ordirs … haue x marc.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, VII. vi. 55. The fader of goddis ichone.

1513.  Bradshaw, St. Werburge (1848), 113. She … kyssed them ycheon.

1535.  Coverdale, Isa. xiii. 14. Euery man shal turne to his owne people, & fle echone.

1631.  T. Powell, Tom All Trades, 18. The manner of their tything in every each one respectiuely.

  d.  Phrases. On († in) each side, † on each a side: (now usually = on both sides; formerly also = on every side). In same sense, † On, in each half. Each day: † used attrib. and in genitive case in sense ‘every day,’ as applied to clothing, etc. † Each other...: = every other (i.e., every alternate)…. † Each a deal, † each deal: every whit. † Each kins: of every kind, every kind of; the northern form appears in one word as ILKIN.

  1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XVI. 367. The … lord of dowglass ay Had spyis out on ilka syde.

c. 1420.  Chron. Vilod., 724. Wepyng and sorwyng in yche a syde.

1551.  Turner, Herbal, D vj a. It groweth … of iche syde of the hygh way.

  c. 1205.  Lay., 14745. Bruttes … heom to-holden in æchere halue.

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 19. On euch half [= on every side].

  1422.  Will of Clanbowe (Somerset Ho.). Myn echedaies gown.

  1748.  Richardson, Clarissa (1811), VI. 303. It ended in a compromise for a fee each other time.

  a. 1300.  Cursor M., 1364. Had vnderstanden wele … ilk [F. ilka] dele.

c. 1325.  Chron. Eng., 794, in Ritson, Metr. Rom., II. 303. The traitour uchadel Sende hit to Denemarke.

c. 1400.  St. Alexius (Vern.), 334. Rædde hit siþen vchadel.

c. 1440.  Generydes, 697. His thought was sett oon hir yche deell.

  a. 1250.  Prov. Ælfred, 384, in O. E. Misc., 126. Uyches cunnes madmes.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 220. Ilc kinnes beste.

  e.  Ever each: original form of EVERY, q.v.

  † 2.  After without (buton): = ANY. Cf. ALL A. 4.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past., xl. 288. Butan ælcum eʓe.

c. 1175.  Cott. Hom., 227. Acenned of þe feder on hefene buton elcer moder.

c. 1300.  Beket, 480. Withoute ech delay.

  II.  Absol. (quasi-pron.)

  3.  With reference to a sb. going before, or followed by of. Sometimes incorrectly with pl. vb.

a. 1000.  Cædmon’s Gen., 1521 (Gr.). Ælc hine selfa begrindeþ gastes dugeðum.

c. 1330.  [see A. γ].

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Monkes T., 163. He … maked ech of hem to been his thral.

1588.  J. Udall, Demonstr. Discip. (Arb.), 50. If God do vsually bestow doctrine and exhortation vpon seuerall persons, wherein eche is found to excell.

1678.  R. Barclay, Apol. Quakers, xi. § 7. 354. Each made it their work to retire inwardly to the Measure of Grace in themselves.

1739.  Chesterf., Lett., I. xxv. 93. Each of these verses have five feet.

1782.  Cowper, Gilpin, 213. All and each that pass’d that way Did join in the pursuit.

1837.  J. H. Newman, Par. Serm. (ed. 2), III. xxii. 354. Each has his own place marked out for him.

1872.  Morley, Voltaire (1886), 3. Each did much to … purify the spiritual self-respect of mankind.

  4.  Distributing a plural subj. or obj. So equal each to each, said in Geometry of corresponding parts.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xx. 9. Þa onfengon hiʓ ælc his pening.

c. 1400.  Beryn, 83. Lo! howe the clowdis worchyn, eche to mete his mach.

c. 1510.  More, Picus, Wks. (1557), 9/1. Eche of them after their deseruing.

1572.  Mascall, Govt. Cattle, Horses (1627), 151. Turmerick, long Pepper, graines of Bayberries, of ech a halfe peny worth.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 258/130.

1790.  Burke, Fr. Rev., 19. His majesty’s heirs and successors, each in his time and order.

1840.  Lardner, Geom., 164. The component plates … being equal … each to each in magnitude.

1848.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 309. The lords of the bedchamber [had] a thousand a year each.

  † b.  Each (uninflected) has been occas. used to distribute a pron. in genit. pl.

1615.  Chapman, Odyss., XIII. 149/198. Two Rockes … whose each strength binds The boistrous waues in, from the high-flowne winds.

1704.  Rowe, Ulyss., II. i. 944. The massie Goblets … Whose each capacious Womb … Portended witless Mirth.

  c.  Often with reference to price; = apiece.

Mod.  They cost sixpence each. I paid sixpence each for them.

  5.  Each other: used as a reciprocal pronoun in acc., dat., or genit. case; = one another.

  Originally this was a phrase construed as in 4, each being the subject, and other (inflected in OE. óðerne, óðres, óðrum, etc.) being governed in acc., genit., or dat. by a verb, prep., or sb. This use still occurs arch. or poet. (each to other, etc.). The words have however long become a compound (cf. Du. elkander), so that we can say to each other, of each other, etc. To use the word as a nom. (‘We know what each other are doing’) is a vulgarism occasionally heard.

a. 1000.  Battle of Maldon, 234. Us is eallum þearf ðæt ure æʓhwylc oðerne bylde.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 149. Þat we sholden biwepen ure elch oðres sinne.

1258.  Proclam. Hen. III., in Stubbs, Sel. Chart., 388. Þæt æhc oþer helpe þæt for to done.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xxix. (1495), 140. Foules that lyue by blode ete not eche other.

1480.  Caxton, Chron. Eng., ccxxiii. 222. Thousandes fell to the grounde eche vp other.

1485.  Malory, Arthur, II. vi. We wil helpe eche other.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cxi. 133. [He] saluted them eche after other.

1538.  Starkey, England, i. 2. Ych one to the profyt of other.

1594.  T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. 338. Helping eche other so farre as wee may.

1615.  Wadsworth, in Bedell, Lett. (1624), 7. How these two could be … members … participant each of other.

1647.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. (1702), I. 37. Justled each the other too much.

1667.  Milton, P. L., IV. 682. Responsive each to others note.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 47, ¶ 2. These Two Lovers seem’d … made for each other.

1816.  J. Wilson, City of Plague, II. iii. 11. That we may see each other’s faces.

1821.  Keats, Isabel, xxi. Each unconfines His bitter thoughts to other.

1828.  Scott, F. M. Perth, II. 24. To defy each other to mortal combat.

  C.  Combinations.

  Certain phrases beginning with each were formerly written as single words (cf. everybody): as each a dele (ilkadel, uchadel), each day’s (echedaies, cf. Sc. ilkaday), each man (eilcmon, eacheman), each one (echone, ichone, ILKANE); see examples under A, B. See also ILKIN.

  Each, var. f. ECHE v. Obs.