(in early combs. repr. OTeut. stem *eƀno-, sometimes with adjectival, sometimes with adverbial force; in later use, combining directly as adj. or adv.). The forms are identical with those of the adj., but in ME. the -n was often omitted.
1. In various senses of the adj. Chiefly in parasynthetic derivatives, as † even-carriaged, -edged, -handed, -tempered, -toed, † -wayed; also in evenwise adv., in like manner.
1670. Brooks, Wks. (1867), VI. 342. Upright hearts in their constant course are *even-carriaged hearts.
1672. Grew, Anat. Plants, Idea Philos. Hist., § 6 (1682), 3. Leaves, which are Long or Round, *Even-edg’d or Escallop’d.
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, s.v., An *even-flavoured day of rain.
1605. Shaks., Macb., I. vii. 10. This *euen-handed Iustice Commends th’ Ingredience of our poyson’d Challice To our owne lips.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, xviii. 305. Pompey’s justice was even-handed.
1849. J. F. Johnston, Exper. Agriculture, 120. To the … *even-numbered portions, nothing was applied.
1875. Farrar, Seekers, III. i. 267. Controlled, modest, faithful, and *even-tempered.
1854. Owen, in Circ. Sc. (c. 1865), II. 79/2. This … family of ‘artiodactyle’ or *even-toed beasts.
1670. Narborough, in Acc. Sev. Late Voy. (1711), 64. These People … are smooth and even toothed and close set and very white.
1645. Quarles, Sol. Recant., v. 84. This unlevells Thy *even-way’d Peace, with indigested evills.
1865. Swinburne, Poems & Bal., Two Dreams, 78. Love … Tuned evenwise with colours musical.
† 2. Prefixed to sbs. with the sense ‘fellow-,’ L. co-, as in even-disciple, -servant, -worker; even-knight, transl. of L. commilito fellow-soldier; even-next, ‘neighbor’ (in Biblical sense); even-sucker, a foster-brother; EVEN-CHRISTIAN. On the analogy of these, even- renders L. co- in even-buying, transl. of L. coemptio purchase. Obs.
This formation was common in OE.; examples of later origin chiefly occur in Wyclif.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Macc. viii. 11. *Euyn byinge [1388 euen-biyng] of boonde men of Jewis. Ibid., John xi. 16. Thomas … seide to *euen disciplis, And go we. Ibid., Phil. ii. 25. Epaphrodite, my brothir and *euene worchere, and myn *euene knyȝt.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 13. Uwil(c) mon scal his *euenexta beodan alswa he walde þet me him bude.
1382. Wyclif, Rev. xix. 10. I am thin *euen seruaunt, and of thi britheren. [1388 Y am a seruaunt with thee]. Ibid., 2 Macc. ix. 29. Philip, his *euen souker [1388 euene soukere] transferride the body.
3. In senses of the adv. † a. = ‘Equally,’ ‘similarly,’ as in even-clad ppl. adj., even-high, -mighty, -rich, -right, -worth, -worthy, adjs.; also eveneche a., co-eternal; EVENMETE, EVENOLD. b. = ‘Evenly,’ as in even-pleached, -set, -spun. † c. With quasi-prepositional sense, in even-deed adv., according to fact, indeed. d. Straight, directly; see EVEN-DOWN, -FORTH.
1622. T. Scott, Belg. Pismire, 81. The only glory is to be gay, and the greatest shame to be under-clad or *euen-clad to our callings.
1555. Inst. Gentleman (1568), I vij. He whyche is the rycher man doth seeme to dooe wronge vnto the other, although *euen deede he haue the wronge doone vnto hym.
a. 1000. Crist, 465 (Gr.). Ær ðon up stiʓe ancenned sunn, *Efenece bearn aʓnum fæder.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom. (1846), II. 598. Ælmihtiʓa God, þu ðe þurh ðinum euenecum Wisdome mannan ʓesceope.
c. 1200. Ormin, 18582. He naffde nohht ben aȝȝ Hiss Faderr æfenneche.
a. 1000. Dial. Devil & Recluse, in Kemble, Sal. & Sat. (1848), 85. He dyde hine *efenheahne Gode.
c. 1200. Ormin, 15720. Crist iss Godess Sune … & wiþþ hiss Faderr efennheh. Ibid., 18571. *Efennmahhtiȝ Godd wiþþ himm [þe Faderr].
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., V. ii. 42. Her [France’s] Hedges *euen pleach’d … Put forth disorder’d Twigs.
c. 890. K. Ælfred, Bæda, V. x. Wæron hi eft *efenrice.
c. 1200. Ormin, 11868. Teȝȝ shulenn wurrþenn þær Wiþþ enngless efennrike.
1382. Wyclif, Ecclus. xlix. 3. He is *euene riȝt [L. directus] godly in the penaunce of folc.
1647. H. More, Song of Soul, I. II. lx. A lower rank on either side we saw Of lesser shrubs *even-set with artifice.
1645. Quarles, Sol. Recant., vi. 75. If the *even-spun Twine should be extended.
1388. Wyclif, Job xxviii. 19. Topasie of Ethiope schal not be maad *euene worth to wisdom. Ibid. (c. 1380), Serm., Sel. Wks. II. 323. Suffringis of þis tyme ben not *even-worþi to þe glorie þat is to come.
1482. Monk of Evesham (Arb.), 44. Y … dyd not for my synnys euynworthy penans.
