[OE. efenlíce: see EVEN a. and -LY2.] In an even manner or degree.
The physical senses are of late emergence, having in early use been expressed by EVEN adv.
1. So as to present an even or uniform surface or line; smoothly, without inequalities in level, form, texture, consistency, depth of tint, etc.
1634–5. Brereton, Trav. (1844), 49. The court … is most evenly paved with bricks.
a. 1639. Wotton, Surv. Educ., in Reliq. (1651), 325 (J.). A palish Clearnesse, evenly and smoothly spread … of a pretty solid consistence.
1755. in Johnson.
1879. G. Gladstone, in Cassell’s Techn. Educ., I. 151. The paste is spread evenly upon the table to an exact depth.
† 2. In a straight line, directly. Obs.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., III. i. 103. Here the smug and Siluer Trent shall runne, In a new Channell, faire and euenly. Ibid. (1599), Hen. V., II. iv. 91. You find him euenly deriu’d From his most fam’d, of famous Ancestors.
b. In an even direction or position with.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, II. ii. 7. Whatsoeuer comes athwart his affection, ranges euenly with mine.
1875. Bedford, Sailor’s Pocket Bk., iv. (ed. 2), 93. Looking carefully up the vernier, the third line above the figure 3 is seen to lie evenly with a line on the scale.
† 3. Exactly; in exact coincidence or agreement.
c. 1325. Metr. Hom., 96. The stern, that thaim the gat gan schawe … com euenlye Thar Crist was abowen.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, X. 228. Quhen it [the wain] wes set evinly Betuix the chekys of the ȝet.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 179. He … Let make of gold … A precious ymage riche After his fader evenliche.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., V. iii. 496. Euenlier and more accordingli.
1512. Act 4 Hen. VIII., c. 19 § 10. The hole some … evenly agreable and concordaunte with the hoole some comprised in the seid endenture.
† b. At the very moment; immediately. Obs.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 1747. To heiȝ vs hastily henne … ich hope be þe best, euenly þis euen while. Ibid., 5338. Eche man was esed euenli at wille.
4. With reference to movement or action: Without fluctuations or variations; equably, uniformly.
1671. Milton, Samson, 671. Thou towards him with hand so various … Temper’st thy providence through his short course: Not evenly, as thou rul’st The angelic orders.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 117. A wheel of manifold rims … would make out uneven bows of circles, in even shares of time, the whole wheel being evenly turned.
a. 1732. Atterbury, Serm. (1740), I. vii. 251. We are so apt to forget God’s administration of the great affairs below, when they go on evenly and regularly.
Mod. The hind wheel of my bicycle doesn’t run evenly.
b. With equanimity or evenness of mind; serenely, tranquilly.
a. 1400. Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS. (1867), 11. Strenghe … of herte and will euynly to suffire þe wele and þe waa.
1682. Norris, Hierocles, Pref. 19. That can look upon another man’s Lands evenly and pleasingly as if they were his own.
1844. Stanley, Arnold (1858), II. x. 275. To be ready to bear evenly, not sullenly.
5. Without inclination to either side. a. In a state of equipoise; under even conditions; without manifest advantage on either side. b. Impartially, fairly, justly, equitably.
a. 1250. Prov. Ælfred, 79, in O. E. Misc., 106. And þe clerek and þe knyht he schulle demen euelyche [a. 1275 (2nd text) euenliche] riht.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, VII. 103. I trow he suld be hard to sla, And he war bodyn all evynly.
1424. Sc. Acts Jas. I. (1597), § 45. Gif the Iudge refusis to do the Law eavenlie, the partie compleinand sall haue recourse to the King.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VI. 53. He thinkis als luff did him hye awance, So ewynly held be fauour the ballance.
1509. Fisher, Fun. Serm. C’tess Richmond, Wks. 297. [She] prouyded men lerned … euenly & indyfferently to here all causes.
a. 1626. Bacon, Advice to Villiers, in Cabala (1652), 52 (J.). It behoves you to carry your self wisely and evenly between them [the king and prince] both.
1692. Bentley, Boyle Lect., 40 (J.). Rest for ever being evenly balanced between Infinite Attractions.
1843. Arnold, Hist. Rome, III. 157. A single battle, evenly contested and hardly won.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 255. The Sovereign, even if he had the wish, had not the power, to bear himself evenly between his large and his small kingdom.
1878. Lecky, Eng. in 18th C., I. i. 118. The apparent wishes of the nation hung so evenly and oscillated so frequently.
6. Equally. † a. In an equal degree or proportion. Sometimes followed by as. Obs.
a. 1000. trans. Bæda’s Eccl. Hist., III. xxiii. Calin … wæs mæsse preost & efenlic Godes man.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., I. v. 25. Þou … compleinest þat gerdouns ne ben not euenliche ȝolde to þe desertes of folk.
1382. Wyclif, Ezek. xlvii. 14. Forsoothe ȝe shuln weelde it, eche euenly as his brother.
c. 1400. Three Kings Cologne, xiv. 48. Þe sterre euenlich ȝede to-fore euery kyng and all her pepil.
1413. Lydg., Pilgr. Sowle, IV. xxvi. (1483), 71 b. Theyr wyttes shold ben enen y lyke, and euenly shold they comprehenden.
b. In the same degree throughout. Cf. 1.
1612. Brerewood, Lang. & Relig., xiii. (1614), 113 (J.). The vpper face of it [the Sea], is knowen to be leuell by nature, and euenly distant from the Center.
1756. Burke, Subl. & B. (1759), 309. The liquor reflecting all the rays of its proper colour evenly.
c. In equal parts or shares; as much on one side as on the other.
1395. E. E. Wills (1882), 5. Cxx li, euenliche to be departed betwix ham thre.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., I. 606. Hony, myxt with salt armonyake And comyn evenly, is goode therfore.
1471. Act. Audit., 18. One [= on] baith thair expensis evinly.
1574. trans. Littleton’s Tenures, 43 b. Gavelkind whereby … the children males oughte evenly to inherit.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, Pref. B iij. There is no great Art in deuiding euenly of those things, which are subiect to number and measure.
1885. L’pool Daily Post, 30 June, 4/6. The two parties in the borough are very evenly divided.
7. Evenly even, odd: see EVEN, ODD.
