Obs. [a. ON. iafning-i, sb. f. iafn EVEN a. But possibly this may have blended with an adv. f. OE. efen, EVEN a. + -inga, -unga advb. suffix.]

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  A.  sb. An equal, one of the same rank; a ‘match’; a neighbor (in scriptural sense).

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a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 162, in Lamb. Hom., 169. Þer sculen eueningges bon þe riche and the laȝe.

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c. 1200.  Ormin, 10702. Tatt tu wiþþ þin efenninng þe metelike lede.

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a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 119. Heo… undernam hit [lare] se wel Þæt nane ne was hire euening.

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c. 1325.  Chron. Eng., 24, in Ritson, Metr. Rom., II. 271. Geomagog hatte here kyng, Me nuste no wer ys evenyng.

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c. 1450.  Myrc, 1229. Hast thou enuyet thyn euenynge.

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  B.  adj. ? or adv.

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  1.  [The sb. or adv. used predicatively.] Equal; on a level; of the same rank. Const. to, with.

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c. 1200.  Ormin, 13674. Þe laþe gast þatt wollde ben effninng wiþþ Godd.

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a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 334. Hwuche unðeauwes beoð efnunge to þeos.

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a. 1300.  Cursor M., 11688 (Cott.). Þe crop was euening to þe rote. Ibid., 23392. Þat ilk þan mai þe angels do þat þou sal euening þan be to.

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c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 2217. Of any erdyng in erthe euenyng to vs.

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  2.  As adv. qualifying an adj.

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c. 1300.  Cursor M., 28170 (Cott.). Of him þat was myn euening rike.

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