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ever

Pronunciation: /ˈɛvə(ɹ)/

The English word “ever” has 7 meanings listed here.

adverb

  1. Always, frequently, forever.
  2. Continuously, constantly, all the time (for the complete duration).
  3. At any time.
  4. As intensifier following an interrogative word.
  5. Indicates experiential aspect, once; has or have (done something) before.

adjective

  1. Occurring at any time, occurring even but once during a timespan.

determiner

  1. Shortening of every

Etymology

From Middle English ever, from Old English ǣfre, originally a phrase whose first element undoubtedly consists of Old English ā (“ever, always”) + in (“in”) + an element possibly from feorh (“life, existence”) (dative fēore). Compare Old English ā tō fēore (“ever in life”), Old English feorhlīf (“life”) from feorh (“life”) + līf (“life”). Sense 5 of the adverb was likely formed by association with…

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.