even noun [OE. eve, even, efen, æfen. AS. ǣfen; akin to OS. āband, OFries, āvend, D. avond, OHG. āband, Icel. aptan, Sw. afton, Dan. aften; of unknown origin. Cf. Eve, Evening.] Evening. See Eve, noun 1. [Poetic.] Shak.

E′ven adjective [AS. efen. efn; akin to OS. eban, D. even, OHG. eban, G. efen, Icel. jafn, Dan. jevn, Sw. jämn, Goth. ibns. Cf. Anent, Ebb.]

1. Level, smooth, or equal in surface; not rough; free from irregularities; hence uniform in rate of motion of action; as, even ground; an even speed; an even course of conduct.

2. Equable; not easily ruffled or disturbed; calm; uniformly self-possessed; as, an even temper.

3. Parallel; on a level; reaching the same limit.

And shall lay thee even with the ground. Luke xix. 44.

4. Balanced; adjusted; fair; equitable; impartial; just to both sides; owing nothing on either side; – said of accounts, bargains, or persons indebted; as, our accounts are even; an even bargain.

To make the even truth in pleasure flow. Shak.

5. Without an irregularity, flaw, or blemish; pure.

“I know my life so even.” Shak.

6. Associate; fellow; of the same condition. [Obs.]

“His even servant.” Wyclif (Matt. xviii. 29).

7. Not odd; capable of division by two without a remainder; – said of numbers; as, 4 and 10 are even numbers.

Whether the number of the stars is even or odd. Jer. Taylor.

On even ground

with equal advantage.

On even keel (Naut.)

in a level or horizontal position.

E′ven, transitive verb [imperfect or past participle Evened; present participle or verbal noun Evening]

1. To make even or level; to level; to lay smooth.

His temple Xerxes evened with the soil. Sir. W. Raleigh.

It will even all inequalities Evelyn.

2. To equal. [Obs.]

“To even him in valor.” Fuller.

3. To place in an equal state, as to obligation, or in a state in which nothing is due on either side; to balance, as accounts; to make quits; to make equal; as, to even the score. Shak.

4. To set right; to complete.

5. To act up to; to keep pace with. Shak.

E′ven intransitive verb To be equal. [Obs.] R. Carew.

E′ven adverb [AS. efne. See Even, adjective, and cf. E’en.]

1. In an equal or precisely similar manner; equally; precisely; just; likewise; as well.

“Is it even so?” Shak.

Even so did these Gauls possess the coast. Spenser.

2. Up to, or down to, an unusual measure or level; so much as; fully; quite.

Thou wast a soldier
Even to Cato's wish. Shak.

Without . . . making us even sensible of the change. Swift.

3. As might not be expected; – serving to introduce what is unexpected or less expected.

I have made several discoveries, which appear new, even to those who are versed in critical learning. Addison.

4. At the very time; in the very case.

I knew they were bad enough to please, even when I wrote them. Dryden.

☞ Even is sometimes used to emphasize a word or phrase.

“I have debated even in my soul.” Shak.

By these presence, even the presence of Lord Mortimer. Shak.