See also: even, Even, and éven

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-

  1. Even in number, not odd.
    even-toed, even-numbered, w:Even-even nucleus
  2. (no longer productive) Uniform, evenly in quantity.
    even-down, even-tempered, even-toned
  3. (no longer productive) Prefix meaning equally, similarly, same.
    evennight, evenmete, evenold
  4. (rare, dialectal or no longer productive) Prefix occurring mostly in older terms, bearing the meaning of equal in rank, joint, co-, fellow-.
    even-bishop, even-christian, even-servant

Derived terms edit

References edit

even-”, in OED Online  , Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.

Anagrams edit