even-
English edit
Etymology edit
From Middle English even-, efen-, from Old English efn- (“equal, fellow-, co-”), from Proto-West Germanic *ebna- (“like-, level, equal-”, prefix/combining form), from Proto-Germanic *ebnaz (“equal, even”); same as Old English efn (“equal, even, level”). More at even. Cognate with Scots evin- (“equal-”), Old Frisian ivin-, evn- (“even-”), Old High German eban- (“even-”).
Prefix edit
even-
- Even in number, not odd.
- (no longer productive) Uniform, evenly in quantity.
- (no longer productive) Prefix meaning equally, similarly, same.
- (rare, dialectal or no longer productive) Prefix occurring mostly in older terms, bearing the meaning of equal in rank, joint, co-, fellow-.
Derived terms edit
References edit
“even-”, in OED Online , Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.