adv. Forms: 1–2 alne weʓ (WS. ealne weʓ), 3–4 alne way, 4–5 alle wey, al wey, 5–6 allewaye, allwaye, alwaye, 5– alway. [orig. two words ALL and WAY, in the accusative of space or distance, = all the way, the whole way, probably at first in reference to space traversed, but already in the oldest Eng. transferred to an extent of time, all along, all the time, continually. Afterwards confused with the genitive form, ALWAYS, which has superseded it in prose, alway surviving only in poetry or as an archaism.]
1. All along, all the time, perpetually, throughout all time.
c. 885. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxviii. § 5. & þæt ealne weʓ siofodest þæt hi ealne weʓ næron on wite, & ic þe sæde ealne weʓ þæt hi næfre ne bioþ buton wite.
1340. Ayenb., 136. Þe wel couaytouse wrechche þet alneway heþ þet eȝe to þe guodes þet oþre habbeþ and doþ alneway and makeþ alneway semblont þet he ne heþ naȝt.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 236. For to love him Alweye [v.r. alwey, alway] never the lesse.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xx. (1495), 126. Yf lyfe duryd a thousande yere alwaye shold growe teeth more and more.
1611. Bible, Matt. xxviii. 20. And Loe, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
1845. Neale, Hymns for Sick, 36. Whoso receiveth them, receiveth Thee, With them alway.
a. 1858. Muhlenberg, Hymn. I would not live alway I ask not to stay.
2. = ALWAYS 1; every time, at all times, on all occasions. Opposed to sometimes, occasionally.
c. 1410. Sir Cleges, 221. Wethyr wee have les or more, Allwaye thanke we God therefore.
1473. Warkw., Chron., 4. Alwey he promysed he wuld do.
1513. More, Edw. V. (1641), 7. Not alway for ill will, but oftner for ambition.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Sam. xv. 2. Absalom gat him vp allwaye early in the mornynge, and stode in the waye by the porte.
1611. Bible, John vii. 6. My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
1851. Trench, Poems, 46. And boldly use the children’s prayer alway.
1868. Miss J. E. Brown, Lights thro’ Lattice, 56. For he [the foe] doth mark each open door alway.
† 3. In any case, after all, still. = ALWAYS 3. Obs.
a. 1400. in Hallam, Mid. Ages (1872), III. 91. Savyng alwey to our liege lord his real prerogatif.
1413. Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, IV. xx. (1483), 67. He a disciple is, thou arte a lord Thou al awey art greter than he is.
1475. Bk. Noblesse, 34. Not withestanding so oft tymes trewes and alliaunces taken and made … alle waye whan the Frenshe partie coude have and fynde any avauntage or coloure … they did make new werre.
