Ever adv.

Forms: α. 1–3 ǽfre (north. ǽfra, 2 ævre, 3 ævere), 2–3 afre, efre, efer(e, 3 aver(e, avre, eur, 2–4 evr(e, evere, 3–4 hevere, 2–5 eaver, 2–6 evir, -yr, 9 dial. ivver, 2– ever. β. 3 ær, er, 4–7 ere, 6– e’er. Also α. 3 ȝavre, 6 yeffor. β. 4 yer. [OE. ǽfre. Not found in other Teut. langs.; the ulterior etymology is doubtful. Connection of some kind with OE. á, AY is probable on account of the sense.

  If it be a compound of á, the second element should begin with f (or less probably with b), and contain the vowel i or ī. The most plausible suggestion hitherto made is that of Cosijn (Taalk Bijdragen II. 267), that it is equivalent to Goth. *aiw faírhwau ‘ever in life’; cf. the common OE. phrase á tó feore in similar sense; also OHG. neonaltre never, lit. ‘never in life.’ This is supported by the agreement of the final -a of the ONorthumb. ǽfra with the ending of the locative (dat.) of the -u declension, to which the sb. feorh life (:—*ferhwus) originally belonged. The recorded forms of feorh, however, do not account for the umlaut; but cf. the cognate OE. fíras, OS. firihôs, ON. fírar ‘men.’ A different suggestion has been made by Prof. G. Hempl in Mod. Lang. Notes IV. (1889), 417, viz. that the word is an adverbial case of a subst. compound f. á + byre (:—*buri) event, occasion. On this view its formation would be closely analogous to that of Ger. jemals. With regard to the umlaut Prof. Hempl compares ǽrende:—*árundi; with regard to the f from b he compares wéofod for *wíh-bed (or -béod).

  I.  Always, at all times; in all cases. (All these senses, exc. 1 b and 5 b, are now arch. or merely literary.)

  1.  Throughout all time, eternally; throughout all past or all future time; perpetually (often hyperbolically or in relative sense: throughout one’s life, etc.). arch. Also strengthened Ever and ever, † ever ay.

a. 1000.  Cynewulf, Crist, 111. Ðu æfre wære.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 57. Þet is and wes and efre scal beon iblecced ofer al.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 206. Icc amm Gabriel Þatt æfre & æfre stannde Biforenn Godd.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 173. Þe endelese dai is afre abuten ende.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 13180 (Gött.). Þarfor euer ay worth hir wa! Þat god man dos wid tresun sla.

1340.  Ayenb., 71. Þe oþre lyue þet eure wyþoute ende ssel yleste.

1500–20.  Dunbar, ‘Full oft I muse,’ vi. The lyfe that evir dois lest.

1548–9.  (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Offices, 34. That wee may euer liue with thee in the worlde to come.

1551.  Robinson, trans. More’s Utop., II. (Arb.), 73. It [the island] was not euer compassed about with the sea.

1610.  Shaks., Temp., IV. i. 123. Let me liue here euer.

1662.  Bk. Com. Prayer (1844), 113. He liveth and reigneth ever one God.

1733.  Ld. Mayor of London, Lett., 6 Aug., in Swift’s Lett. (1768), V. 326. A set of great men, who will ever be an honour and an ornament to their country.

1831.  Carlyle, Sart. Res. (1858), 152. Ever must the Sovereign of Mankind be fitly entitled King.

  b.  In sense limited by a following adv., prep., or conj., as in ever after(-ward), ever before, ever since, throughout all the time before or after a specified date.

  α.  a. 1300.  Cursor M., 3942 (Gött.). Euer siþen [c. 1340 Trin. euer aftir] halted he.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 510. Hevere bifore and evere aftir.

1525.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. clxxxvi [clxxxii]. 565. He hath assembled toguyder into his house … a great noumbre of menne, and hath kepte them there couertly euersyth the ferst of Whitsontyde.

1535.  Coverdale, Isa. li. 9. Euer and sence the worlde beganne.

1714.  Addison, Spect., No. 556, ¶ 7. The Coffee-houses have ever since been my chief Places of Resort.

1782.  Priestley, Corrupt. Chr., I. I. 104. Ever after, however, the phraseology of the Greeks prevailed.

1865.  H. Kingsley, Hillyars & Burtons, xxxv. It must have been raining cats and dogs ever since I had been out.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 364. This sign I have had ever since I was a child.

  β.  1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., I. i. 23. My desires like fell and cruell hounds, Ere since pursue me.

  2.  At all times, on all occasions, on each occasion; = ALWAYS 1. arch. and north. dial.

c. 1040.  Rule St. Benet (Logeman), 12. Myndiʓ siʓ [se abbod] æfre, þæt [etc.].

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 9. Efere to þam setteres dei hes comen … to þan sinagoge.

c. 1205.  Lay., 547. Brutus heom com æfter & æfer [c. 1275 euere] he heom leide on.

a. 1325.  Prov. Hendyng, xxxiii. Ever out cometh evel sponne web.

1483.  Caxton, G. de la Tour, E v. Of euyll lyf cometh euer an euylle ende.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. 748. As they passed by, ever the Parisyens enclyned themselfe to them.

1602.  Shaks., Ham., I. ii. 162. Your poore Seruant euer.

1632.  Lithgow, Trav., II. 49. They were dayly molested and besieged, but the victory fell euer to the Christians.

1688.  R. Holme, Armoury, III. 54/1. The Prelate of the Garter … is ever the Bishop of Winchester.

a. 1718.  Penn, Life, Wks. 1726, I. 137. Envy and Railing … almost ever follow.

1771.  Goldsm., Hist. Eng., IV. 378. He attacked the largest ships, and almost ever with success.

1812.  Woodhouse, Astron., ix. 70. Longitude is ever measured from the intersection of the equator and ecliptic.

1832.  Ht. Martineau, Homes Abroad, viii. 113. The rude state which is ever the consequence of a scarcity of knowledge.

1885.  North Star, 1 July, 3/2. The Secretary of State for India [Lord Randolph] has been a hard hitter, but he has ever hit fair.

  b.  Idiomatic phrases. † Ever among (see AMONG B. 2); also in same sense † ever between. Ever and again; ever and anon (see AGAIN 4 b, ANON 6 b). † Ever and oft(e(n: with constant reiteration, continually. † Ever now and now, ever now and then, ever now and then among: ‘every now and then.’ † Ever umwhile (ME.): every now and then, from time to time. Obs.

1154.  O. E. Chron., an. 1137. § 3. Hi læiden ʓæildes o[n] þe tunes æureumwile.

c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 27. Nawt ane on ende; ah eauer umbehwile.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 14336 (Cott.). Honurd be þou fader, euer and oft.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 7. Elsynus bisshop of Wynchestre evere among fondede to have þe see.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, VI. xviii. And euer now and now came alle the Knyghtes home. Ibid., X. lxxxviii. And euer bitwene, sir Tristram resorted vnto Ioyous gard.

1542.  Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 250 b. Who when he had clene beggered hymself w^t expenses, would euer now and then thus saie vnto the birde [etc.].

1581.  J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 207 b. Besides these written ordinaunces of the law, he did euer now and then among, rayse vppe Prophetes vnto them.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. ix. 41. And ever and anon, with rosy red, The bashful blood her snowy cheeks did dye.

1632.  Lithgow, Trav., II. 46. Dalmatians … by Sea with Frigots and Brigantines did euer and often vexe the Venetian Commerce.

1687.  A. Lovell, trans. Bergerac’s Com. Hist., I. 71. Ever now and then I looked upwards.

1739.  J. Huxham, Ess. Fevers (1750), 312. A spoonful or two … should be given ever and anon.

1821.  Byron, Sardan., II. i. 551. And ever and anon some falling bolt Proves his divinity.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 274. Ever and anon we are landed in particulars.

1883.  P. Robinson, Fishes of Fancy, 90. Ever and again the husky voices of narwhal and shark … murmured [etc.].

  3.  Constantly, incessantly, perpetually; with continual recurrence. arch. † Ever forth (cf. Ger. immerfort): continually, constantly. † Ever in one: unchangingly. Obs.

a. 1000.  Cædmon’s Crist & Satan, 297. Æfre forth.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Deut. xxxi. 27. Æfer ʓe fliton onʓen God.

a. 1123.  O. E. Chron., an. 1101. His men mycel to hearme æfre ʓedydon.

c. 1205.  Lay., 1276. Þritti dawes & þritti night heo ferden efer [c. 1275 efre] forð riht.

c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 5. Babilones folc weorreð & warpeð eauer toward tis tur.

c. 1290.  Lives Saints (1887), 33. Þis Abbod hire siwede euere forth.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Clerk’s T., 546. But he neuer hir coude fynde But euer in oon ylyke sad and kynde.

c. 1430.  Lydg., Bochas, II. xxvii. (1554), 62 b. With these two vices, he brenneth euer in one.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 17, ¶ 2. Pedants … will ever be carping.

1837.  J. H. Newman, Par. Serm. (ed. 2), III. vii. 99. We are ever sinning, we must ever be renewing our sorrow.

1876.  Freeman, Norm. Conq., IV. xviii. 186. The same tale … we have ever to tell in the English history of these years.

  b.  With comparatives to mark a constant increase or decrease, esp. before the correlatives the—the (OE. swá—swá, ME. se—se, þe—þe).

  α.  1154.  O. E. Chron., an. 1137. Ðæt lastede þa xix wintre wile Stephne was king & æure it was uuerse & uuerse.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 51. Þis fis is of swulc cunde þet euer se he mare strengðdeð him to sw[i]mminde mid þe watere se he mare swimmeð abac.

c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 27. & eauer se hare murðe wes mare togederes; se þe sorhe is sarre at te twinninge.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 14441 (Gött.). And ȝeit troud noght þan felun Bot eur mistroud mar and mare.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 173. Evere þe lenger þat þou lyfest to lyve bi Goddis lawe, evere þe harder it [etc.].

c. 1440.  Ipomydon, 1833 (Weber). Euyr the fayrer that she spake, The fouler braydes gan he make.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 144. He was euer more quyet & restfull in hymselfe.

1833.  Mrs. Browning, Prometh. Bd., Poems 1850, I. 165. This wandering, everlonger, evermore Hath overworn me.

  β.  1297.  R. Glouc. (1724), 110. Er þe lenger þe more.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 58. Ȝer þe more þat þey þole, ai þe more schal þe fendis torment.

  † c.  Ever as (see AS): with varying force = ‘as long as,’ ‘as often as,’ ‘whenever,’ ‘wherever,’ ‘always in proportion as.’ Obs.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3974. Þe kynge … ȝef hom large ȝiftes, euere as hii worthe were.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, X. xxxvi. And euer as he smote doune knyghtes, he made them to swere [etc.].

1529.  Rastell, Pastyme, E iii. His armye … euer as they went wan dyuers stronge holdes & townes.

1530.  Tindale, Exp. 1 Cor., 308. And ever as he grew in promotions and dignity, so gathered he unto him of the most subtle-witted.

1571.  Campion, Hist. Irel. (1809), 71. He subdued the land through and through, ever as he went building up Castles and fortresses.

1594.  2nd Rep. Faustus, in Thoms, Prose Rom. (1828), 101. Ever as they came up to the breach, the cannon heaved them off.

1614.  Markham, Cheap Husb., VII. xxiv. (1668), 126. Ever as you knead it, sprinkle into it the grains of small Chilter wheat.

1631.  Weever, Anc. Fun. Mon., 139. These … haue beene diuers times reformed, euer as they did degenerate from their primitiue sincerity.

  † 4.  Prefixed to indefinite pronouns or advs. to impart to them a distributive sense; also, to distributive words in order to emphasize this function. Ever all: all and sundry. Ever either (outher): each of the two respectively. Ever aywhere, ever where: everywhere. Obs.; for ever each, ever ywhere, see their mod. forms EVERY, EVERYWHERE.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 13873 (Cott.). Iesus went him forth here and þar, And did meracles euer-ai-quar.

c. 1314.  Guy Warw. (A.), 1084. Now we han ben her & tar, Þe pris y-wonne euer ay-war.

1382.  Wyclif, Prov. xxii. 2. The werkere of euer either is the Lord.

a. 1400[?].  Chester Pl. (Shaks. Soc.), 192. Prophescied … to ever all mankinde.

c. 1420.  Sir Amadace (Camd.), xxxi. For ȝe moue haue maysturs euyrqware.

1444.  Close Roll 23 Hen. VI., And euerawther of the said Priour and Geffrey … was bownden in £40.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., I. ii. 8. But if [= unless] euereither of the premissis be trewe the conclusion is not trewe.

  ¶ Giving a distributive sense to numerals. (A mere Germanism.)

1535.  Coverdale, Judg. xv. 4. Samson … catched thre hundreth foxes … and put euer a fyre brande betwene two tayles [Luther, einen Brand je zwischen zwei Schwänze].

  5.  quasi-sb. use of 1. † a. In ME. phrase, long is ever (cf. ‘long is ay’). Obs.

c. 1205.  Lay., 18848. Longe beoð æuere dæd ne bið he næuere.

c. 1325.  Metr. Hom., 103. Ful lang es ever, lang es ever.

  b.  in phrases, For ever (sometimes, esp. in U.S., written FOREVER, q.v.): for all future time, for eternity, in perpetuity; hence (chiefly in colloq. use), incessantly, interminably. In proper sense often in strengthened forms, † For all ever, for ever and (for) ever, for ever and ay (arch.), for ever and a day (? a corruption of prec.; now only humorous, but formerly in serious use).

  α.  a. 1300.  Cursor M., 6218 (Cott.). Þis folk … Þat suld vs serue for euer and ai.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 16. Tuo dukes & tuo bisshopes for euer toke þer leue.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. V. 124. Non go to galys, bote it be for euere.

c. 1420.  Chron. Vilod., 1011. We wylle … ben ȝowre servaundys for ever and hoo.

14[?].  Tundale’s Vis., 1488. To that same peyn schuld y have goo And dwellyd ther in for ever and oo.

1549–62.  Sternhold & H., Ps. lxxvii. 8. Is his goodnesse cleane decayd for euer and a day?

1583.  Golding, Calvin on Deut., ii. 9/2. The doctrine which is set forth in the name of God, serueth not for our age onely, but for all euer.

1594.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., I. ii. (1611), 5. One onely God to be blessed for euer.

1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. iv. 97. Farewell for euer and a day. Ibid. (1600), A. Y. L., IV. i. 145. Now tell me how long you would haue her, after you haue possest her? Orl. For euer, and a day.

1627.  Donne, Serm., clvii. (1839), VI. 276. New heavens, and new earth, for ever, and ever, and ever, and infinite, and super-infinite evers.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 719/144. For ever I am ravish’d from thy sight.

1712–4.  Pope, Rape Lock, III. 153. The meeting points the sacred hair dissever From the fair head, for ever, and for ever!

1771.  Goldsm., Hist. Eng., III. 225. It was the fate of Charles, for ever to aim at projects which were … impracticable.

1794.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, I. i. 26. Alas! Madame St. Aubert knew not that she left it for ever.

1817.  W. Selwyn, Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4), II. 1202. To him and his successors for ever.

1878.  Morley, Carlyle, Crit. Misc. Ser. I. 201. Hitherto certainly, and probably it will be so for ever.

  β.  a. 1592.  Greene, Alphonsus, Wks. (1861), 241. Were banish’d both for e’er from Arragon.

  † 6.  quasi-adj. uses of 1–3. Everlasting, constant, perpetual. Chiefly with agent-nouns or sbs. of action. Obs.

1550.  Veron, Godly Sayings (1846), 129. But ever fire of hel (y^e punishment of the devils) do hang over us.

1580.  Sidney, Arcadia (1622), 481. But the time of my euer farewell approcheth.

1605.  Verstegan, Dec. Intell., Ded. I take my leaue, desiring Almightie God … to be your Maiesties euer protector. Ibid., ii. (1628), 42. They haue beene the onely and euer possessors of their countrey.

1607.  Rowlands, Diog. Lanth., 29. I know thy euer care For winters want … In Sommer doth prepare.

1609.  Epist. Shaks. Tr. & Cr. (Qq. 1, 2), 179. A neuer writer, to an euer reader.

  II.  At any time (= L. unquam); whence: In any case, in any degree. Primarily in negative and interrogative sentences and in hypothetical and subordinate clauses.

  7.  At any time.

  α.  a. 1000.  Cædmon’s Crist & Satan, 171. Þat ic … ne sceal æfre ʓeheran Þære byrhtestan beman stefne.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xiii. 15. Þe læs hiʓ æfre [c. 1160 Hatton afre] mid eaʓum ʓeseon.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 183. A weilewei þu fule hold, þat ich auere was to þe iteied.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 230. Al þet vuel þet he euer dude Job, euer he nom leaue þerof ec et ure Louerde.

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 1178. Ich not ȝef thu were ȝavre prest.

c. 1300.  Thrush & Night., 127, in Hazl., E. P. P., 55. Com thou heuere in here londe, Hy shulen don the in prisoun stronge.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 15116 (Trin.). Þei bicoom soriere þen euer eer þei were.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 198. That Scottis men mycht do na thing That euir mycht pless to thar liking.

1382.  Wyclif, John i. 18. No man euere syȝ God, no but the oon bigetun sone.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 3 b. More … pleasaunt to beholde than euer it was … before.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., IV. (1586), 165 b. Hortensus they saie, was the first that euer killed Peacocke for the Table in Rome.

1600.  Shaks., A. Y. L., III. v. 28. If euer … You meet in some fresh cheeke the power of fancie.

1612.  Shelton, Quix., III. viii. I. 187. Whence I have no hope ever to return.

1660.  Pepys, Diary (1875), 156. The first time that ever I remember to have heard the … singing-men in surplices in my life.

1662.  Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., III. ii. § 17. We deny that ever his Atoms with all their occursions would ever produce those things which are in the Universe.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 37, ¶ 1. One of the prettiest Grotesque Works that ever I saw.

1817.  Byron, Beppo, xcii. Did I ever? No, I never Saw a man grown so yellow!

1837.  Dickens, Pickw., xi. For who could ever gaze on Mr. Pickwick’s beaming face without [etc.].

1888.  Bryce, Amer. Commw., III. xcix. 387. The criticisms of an outspoken press rarely assail their [English Judges’] ability, hardly ever their fairness.

  β.  c. 1205.  Lay., 14320. He wes þe bezste latimer þat ær com her.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 99. It is scham to hem to say þus, þat ere kirk erriþ, sin He & His kirk is o persone.

1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., IV. ii. 141. It hath bin the longest night That ere I watch’d, and the most heauiest.

1692.  trans. Sallust, 28. For who … would ere endure, that they should wallow in wealth,… while we are pinch’d at home with want of necessaries?

  ¶ b.  Seldom or ever: confusedly used for ‘seldom if ever,’ ‘seldom or never.’

1771.  Contemplative Man, I. 83. All those people who were afflicted with any Illness, seldom or ever survived it.

1804.  Syd. Smith, Mor. Philos., v. (1850), 75. Dreamers … who walk in their sleep have seldom or ever the most distant recollections that they have been dreaming at all. Ibid. (1809), Two Vols. Serm., I. 76. This plea is rarely or ever true.

  c.  Sometimes used pleonastically as in seldom ever.

1813.  J. C. Hobhouse, Journey, 78. The peasants seldom ever can get a farthing for their beasts.

1828.  Carlyle, in Foreign Rev., II. 460. And seldom ever can he succeed.

1857.  Bagehot, Lit. Studies (1879), II. 275. The words of a great poet, in our complex modern time, are rarely ever free from its traces.

  8.  On any supposition, by any chance, at all.

  a.  † Ever any: any at all (obs.). Also Ever a(n, e’er a(n (now vulgar, though never a(n is in good colloquial use: see the corrupt form ARROW).

  α.  a. 1067.  Charter of Eadweard, in Cod. Dipl., IV. 219. Ic nelle ðat efre ani bisscop ani þing him ðer on a ateo.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 43. Heo wes wurse to þolien þenne efreni of alle þa oðre pine.

c. 1205.  Lay., 15525. Ȝif mon funde in auer æi londe. æuer æi cniht bærn.

1583.  Rich, Phylotus & Emelia (1835), 31. If there bee euer a Deuill of them bothe, I knowe it is she.

1612.  T. Taylor, Comm. Titus ii. 14. 532. Here is policie, but pietie scarce euer a whit.

1769.  Fair Annie, in Herd, Sc. Songs. Had ye ever a brother.

1879.  Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Wood-bk., s.v., ‘Drink or cider, ever-a-one, I dunna car’ w’ich.’

1884.  Chesh. Gloss., s.v., Have you ever a shilling as you could lend me?

  β.  1597.  Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. iv. 295. I loue thee better, then I loue ere a scuruie young Boy of them all. Ibid. (1611), Wint. T., IV. iv. 180.

1598.  B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., IV. i. The should haue beene perboyl’d … e’re they should ha’ come in, e’re a one of ’hem.

1653.  H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xxxviii. 151. If there were ere a one amongst you that could find out any device, or stratagem of war.

1657.  Earl Monm., trans. Paruta’s Pol. Disc., 200. Nor … have [they] made me ere a whit more happy then I was at first?

1706.  Watts, Horæ Lyr., I. ‘Happy the hours.’ Angels, assist my doleful song, If you have e’er a mourning string.

1746.  W. Horsley, Fool (1748), I. No. 33. 232. A Man of my Turn enjoys a Holiday with as high a Relish as e’er a Prentice-Boy or Maid-Servant within the Bills of Mortality.

1802.  Bentham, Wks. (1843), X. 387. I don’t know whether you have e’er an one.

  b.  In comparative clauses introduced by as, than; also in relative clauses introduced by that preceded by a superlative or by all, the only, etc.

  α.  1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. 746. All that ever the kyng … coude do coude never tourne them fro that opinyon. Ibid. (c. 1530), Arth. Lyt. Bryt., 468. Rode forthe as fast as ever they myght. Ibid. (a. 1533), Huon, l. 169. As naked as ever he was borne.

1583.  Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. M v a. [They] Runne … from towne to towne … till they haue spent al that euer they haue.

1681.  Dryden, Sp. Friar, II. 21 (J.). A twin-brother, as like him as ever he can look.

1776.  G. Semple, Building in Water, 9. Piles … driven in as close together as ever they can stick.

1777.  Johnson, Lett., 18 Feb., in Boswell. She will accommodate you as well as ever she can in the old room.

1835.  Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., I. 43. Try all that ever you can to be patient.

1859.  Sir G. W. Dasent, Popular Tales fr. Norse, 19. All she wanted was to get above ground as fast as ever she could.

1885.  ‘F. Anstey,’ Tinted Venus, 25. Can’t you see I ’m as anxious to get that statue again as ever you can be?

  β.  1591.  Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., I. iii. 72. As lowd as e’re thou canst, cry.

  c.  Added for emphasis to the conjunctions as soon as, before, ere, or (= ere). Also † when ever = ‘just as soon as.’

1325–1883.  [see ERE C. 1 d.].

1632.  Lithgow, Trav., I. 38. Most part of all which M. Arthur and I saw, before euer we either eate, drunke, or tooke our lodging in Venice.

1655.  trans. Sorel’s Com. Hist. Francion, VIII. 7. He gave me a good Supper last night when ever I came within his doors.

a. 1656.  Bp. Hall, Occas. Medit., § 15 (1851), 20. So soon as ever he hears the noise of a fly afar off, how he hastens to his door!

1718.  Hickes & Nelson, J. Kettlewell, I. xxiii. 46. So soon as ever he commenced Master.

1844.  Mrs. Browning, Drama of Exile, Poems I. 48. Or ever she [the Earth] knew sin!

1872.  Sir G. W. Dasent, Three to One, II. 256. I know what is to happen before ever I get up-stairs.

  d.  Following interrogative pronouns, advs., etc. (how, who, what, where, why), to intimate that the speaker has no notion what the answer will be.

  Sometimes these combinations are (improperly) written as single words: see HOWEVER, WHOEVER, etc.

1607.  R. C[arew], trans. Estienne’s World of Wonders, 240. I shal desire him to consider how euer it was possible to get from these Priests (which were as blind as beetles) a pertinent answer.

1859.  Sir G. W. Dasent, Popular Tales fr. Norse, 12. Where ever in the world have you been? Ibid., 163. The Troll began to wonder … how ever they could be rid of the lad. Ibid., 215. I wonder now what ever there can be inside this chest.

  e.  Appended to relative pronouns or advbs., and giving to them a generalized or indefinite force; = L. -cumque. These combinations are now always written as single words: see HOW(SO)EVER, WHO(SO)EVER, etc.

  9.  In any degree. a. Prefixed to the followed by a comparative; = ‘at all,’ ‘any.’ Now only colloq. (Cf. never, which in the parallel use is much more common).

  α.  1622.  Sparrow, Bk. Com. Prayer (1661), 172. The Primitive Christians did not like the Jewish Rites ever the worse because they were Theirs.

1614.  Bp. Hall, No Peace with Rome, § 13, Recoll. Treat. (1617), 710 (J.). Let no man feare that harmfull creature euer the lesse, because he sees the Apostle safe from that poyson.

1697.  Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., I. 8. A Mine undiscovered, for which neither the owner of the Ground, or any Body else are ever the richer.

  β.  1642.  Rogers, Naaman, 364. For none are ere the wiser for them.

a. 1649.  Hobbes, Absurd Geom., Wks. 1845, VII. 386. Do you think … the opinion of your judgment would have been ere the less?

  b.  Ever so: prefixed in hypothetical sentences to adjs. or advbs., with the sense ‘in any conceivable degree.’ Sometimes ellipt. = ‘ever so much’; also dial. in phrases like Were it ever so, = ‘however great the need might be.’ Similarly, Ever such (a).

  This expression has been substituted, from a notion of logical propriety, for never so, which in literary use appears to be much older, and still occurs arch., though app. not now known in dialects. See NEVER.

1690–2.  Locke, Educ., in T. Fowler, Locke (1880), i. 6. Is there anything more inconsistent with civil conversation and the end of all debate, than not to take an answer, though ever so full and satisfactory?

1741.  Richardson, Pamela, II. 273. Let me … not be call’d down for ever so much.

1751.  Beau-Philosopher, 193. Was it to be attended with ever such difficult Circumstances, there is nothing that a great mind will not undertake.

1764.  Reid, Inquiry, vi. § 3. 189. His eyes, though ever so perfect.

1777.  Sheridan, Sch. Scand., II. ii. Though Sir Peter’s ill humour may vex me ever so, it never shall provoke me to [etc.].

1816.  Kirby & Sp., Entomol. (1828), II. xix. 142. If ever so many queens are introduced into a hive.

1843.  Thackeray, Jerôme Paturot, 349. If … the caricaturist had made fun of me ever so, I would … have put up with the insult.

a. 1850.  Rossetti, Dante & Circle, I. (1874), 173. Though of great heart and worthy everso, He shall be counted low.

1882.  W. Worc. Gloss., s.v., ‘I wunt ax ’im for bread, not if it was ever so.’

  c.  Hence ever so is used in affirmative contexts as a vague intensive: ‘vastly,’ ‘immensely.’

1858.  Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Jrnls. (1872), I. 13. Ever so little to their credit.

1870.  Mrs. Whitney, We Girls, i. Ever so many years ago.

1877.  N. W. Lincolnsh. Gloss., s.v., She fret ever so when Harry ’listed.

1885.  ‘F. Anstey,’ Tinted Venus, 79. Thank you ever so much, Leander dear!

  III.  Combinations.

  10.  When ever (in senses 1–3) qualifies an adj. or ppl. adj. used attributively, it is almost invariably hyphened, thus giving rise to an unlimited number of quasi-compounds, as ever-abiding, -angry, -blooming, -changeful, -dear, -esteemed, etc.

1570.  T. Norton, trans. Nowell’s Catech. (1853), 152. The only holy and ever-increasing noble fountain.

1580.  Sidney, Arcadia (1622), 136. The euer-noble nature of Leonatus.

1586.  T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad. (1589), I. 47. Philosophie … is … to lead us to the eternall fruition of our supreme and ever-abiding good.

1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., I. i. 268. My euer esteemed dutie prickes me on.

1590.  T. Watson, Poems (1870), 159. Yee seaunfold flames, whose euer-circling fires maintain this earth.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. i. 39. Cynthia still doth steepe In silver deaw his ever-drouping hed.

1599.  T. M[oufet], Silkwormes, 46. The Vulture gnawing stil, That euer-dying euer-liuing wretch.

1604.  Shaks., Oth., III. iii. 463. Witnesse you euer-burning Lights aboue. Ibid. (1610), Temp., I. ii. 289. Thy grones Did make wolues howle, and penetrate the breasts Of euer-angry Beares.

1612.  Drayton, Poly-olb., I. Notes 2. O euer-happie Iles … By Nature stronglie fenc’t.

c. 1630.  Drumm. of Hawth., Poems, Wks. 32. Ethereal princes, ever-conquering bands.

1641.  Milton, Ch. Govt., I. vi. God … brought forth … that beneficent and ever-distributing office of deacons.

1648.  Hamilton Papers (1880), 174. My euer honored Lord.

1646.  Crashaw, Delights of Muses, 105 (J.). In panting murmurs, still’d out of her Breast That ever-bubling spring.

1659.  (title) Golden Remains of the ever Memorable M^r John Hales.

1682.  Dryden, Medal, 24. Oh, could the style that copied every grace … have formed his ever-changing will.

a. 1687.  Waller, Wks. (1729), 183 (Jod.).

1685.  Dryden, Misc., II. 72. To treat thy evercraving Mind With ev’ry Blessing.

1703.  Rowe, Fair Penit., II. i. Oh! hear me, hear your ever faithful creature!

a. 1711.  Ken, Hymnotheo, Poet. Wks. 1721, III. 74. Their drink from ever-dropping Trees is rain’d.

1712–4.  Pope, Rape Lock, II. 66. The skies, Where light disports in ever-mingling dyes. Ibid. (1715), Iliad, II. (1019). The fierce Pelasgi … March from Larissa’s ever-fertile Ground.

1741.  Richardson, Pamela (1824), I. 227. My ever-dear and ever-honoured father and mother.

1744.  Armstrong, Preserv. Health, III. 86/427 (Jod.). Th’ ever-varying circle of the day.

1744.  Thomson, Autumn, 812. The melting snows, and ever-dripping fogs.

1786.  Burns, Ded. to G. Hamilton. O’er the harp pale Mis’ry moans, And strikes the ever-deep’ning tones.

1797.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, I. i. 4. The city and bay of Naples, an ever-moving picture.

1809.  Han. More, Cœlebs, I. 403 (Jod.). Its versatile temper, and its ever-new resources.

1812.  Byron, Ch. Har., I. l. The ball-piled pyramid, the ever-blazing match, Portend the deeds to come.

1827.  Keble, Chr. Y., Quinquagesima i. Brightening in ever-changeful bloom.

1842.  Manning, Serm. (1848), I. xxiv. 354. They … declined also the ever-ready spirit of a Christian life.

1852.  Tennyson, Ode on Death Wellington, 79. Ever-echoing avenues of song.

1866.  Kingsley, Herew., II. xxii. 372. Unless the grace of God shall lift him … into a life literally new, ever-renewing, ever-expanding, and eternal.

1866.  J. H. Newman, Gerontius, ii. 14. Fainter and more faint the accents come, As at an ever-widening interval.

1868.  Darwin, in Life & Lett. (1887), III. 75. My ever-recurrent uncomfortable sensations.

  b.  Occasionally prefixed to a passive inf. (preceded by to), forming an attrib. adj.

1815.  Mrs. M. Pilkington, Celebrity, II. 91. This dear and ever-to-be-lamented parent.

  c.  Prefixed to sbs. denoting action or state. rare.

1665.  J. Sergeant, Sure-footing, 76. The Proper Cause must be an ever-delivery. Ibid., 106. The ever-continuance or Uninterruptedness of Tradition.

  11.  Special Combinations: ever-being a., that always is; hence † everbeingness; † everbleving vbl. sb. [f. bleve, BELEAVE v.], everlastingness; everbrown sb., a plant always brown (humorously after evergreen); † ever-crescent a., ? growing in whatever place; † ever-durable a., destined to last for ever; † ever-glooming a., involved in perpetual gloom; † ever-grow (see quot.). See also the main-words, EVER-BLESSED, -DURING, etc.

1655.  Gouge, Comm. Heb. i. 8. 73. The Greek word here translated ever, αἰῶνα,… according to the notation … signifieth *everbeing (ἀεὶ ὤν).

1674.  N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 24. Gods whole eternity rightly taken … is … one only everbeing now.

1839.  Bailey, Festus, xx. (1848), 233. A bride of God, And handmaid of the Everbeing One.

1674.  N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 13–4. Such vvords to set forth Gods *ever-beingness by, as may be sure to shut out formerness and afterness.

1340.  Ayenb., 105. Þet uerste word [Pater] ous sseweþ þe langnesse of his *eurebleuinge.

1838.  Dickens, Nich. Nick., ii. The scanty box, and stunted *everbrowns, and broken flower-pots … are scattered mournfully about.

1650.  Bulwer, Anthropomet., 172. The Organs of the Practique Intellect are to rectifie and regulate the excrescent, supercrescent, and *ever-crescent parts.

1664.  H. More, Myst. Iniq., 386. A third Angel out of the same Company denounces most direfull and *ever-durable torments to those that worship the Beast and his Image.

1592.  Kyd, Sp. Trag., I. in Hazl., Dodsley, V. 9. Through dreadful shades of *ever-glooming night.

1676.  Grew, Anat. Plants, IV. I. v. § 1 (1682), 156. And an *Evergrow, is a degree above an Evergreen: here, the Buds and young Sprigs, do only live; there, they grow and are put forth.