even-

See also: even, Even, and éven

English

Etymology

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

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

English terms prefixed with even-

References

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

Anagrams

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