Evermore

adv. For forms see EVER and MORE adv.; sometimes written as two words. [A later form of prec., mo being replaced by more.] An emphatic synonym of EVER.

  In poetry the accentuation e·vermore sometimes occurs.

  1.  For all future time. Obs. exc. arch.

c. 1205.  Lay., 31051. King Penda … ȝerneð þine ære nu and auere mære.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 12. Blisse and soules reste[n] ðat him sal eauermor lesten.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 6838. It es right þat þai duelle þare, In þat hidus myrknes ever-mare.

c. 1440.  Gesta Rom., i. 4 (Harl. MS.). He shalle dye in euermore lastynge dethe.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, I. 13. Thai haff wrocht … To hald Scotlande at wndyr euirmar.

1592.  W. Warner, in Farr, S. P. Eliz. (1845), II. 379. Disable vs eremore.

1611.  Bible, John vi. 34. Lord, euermore giue vs this bread.

1791.  Burns, Lament Earl Glencairn. Awake thy last sad voice, my harp!… Then sleep in silence evermair!

a. 1854.  Montgomery, O where shall rest be found. Lest we be banished from thy face And evermore undone.

  b.  For († unto) evermore.

c. 1300.  Cursor M., 23934 (Edin.). Leuedi … led me wit þe for þi son for euir mar wit him to won.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 155. Gyff thou will hald in cheyff off me For euirmar.

1382.  Wyclif, Ecclus. xlviii. 27. He … comfortede the weilende men in Sion, vnto euermor.

1555.  Act 2–3 Phil. & Mary, c. 20 § 3. Leases … shall for evermore pass and be made under … the Seals of the said Duchy.

1622.  S. Ward, Woe to Drunkards (1627), 34. For euer and euer, and if it were possible for more than for euer, for euermore?

1664.  Tillotson, Wisdom of being Religious, 12 (J.). Religion preferrs those pleasures which flow from the presence of God for evermore.

1850.  Tennyson, In Mem., xxxiv. My own dim life should teach me this, That life shall live for evermore.

  2.  Always, at all times, constantly, continually.

c. 1280.  A Sarmun, in E. E. P. (1862), 4. Of helle pine we aȝt be ware and euer more hit hab in þoȝt.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XVII. 3. Thei þat haue been hyre by-fore aren eueremore poure.

1486.  Bk. St. Albans, E iij a. He [the hare] fymaes and crotis and Roungeth euermoore.

1551.  Recorde, Pathw. Knowl., II. xlvii. The line … dothe euermore run within the edge of the circle.

1594.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., II. vii. (1611), 73. The minde of man desireth euermore to know the truth.

1632.  Lithgow, Trav., V. 209. Wilde Arabs … euermore annoy the Turkes.

1668.  Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., I. xviii. 48/2. These Vessels … are evermore found in all Bodies.

1801.  Southey, Thalaba, XI. xxxvi. Yonder roar … evermore increasing, Still louder, louder, grows.

1850.  T. T. Lynch, Theoph. Trinal, viii. 138. Lift your eyes unto the evermore silent heaven.

  3.  With negatives and expressions implying a negative: † a. In any degree. Obs. b. At any future time. c. (With the full sense of more: in this use better written as two words.) Ever again, any longer.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 7. Heynes of state makiþ not a man evermore beter to God.

c. 1600.  Shaks., Sonn., xxxvi. I may not euer-more acknowledge thee.

1832.  Ht. Martineau, Hill & Valley, vi. 85. This circumstance seemed to destroy the hope that the works … could evermore enjoy the prosperity which had been their lot.

1842.  Mrs. Browning, Grk. Chr. Poets (1863), 139. Not in England evermore.

  4.  quasi-sb.

c. 1850.  F. T. Palgrave, Morning Hymn, 19, Hymns (1867), 10.