everywhere

Pronunciation

• IPA: UK /ˈev.ri.weə/, US /ˈev.ri.wer/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English eauerihwer,^[2] a contraction of Old English ǣfre ġehwǣr,^[2] built from ever and where;^[2] the -i- was apparently a prefix, as in handiwork.^[2] Etymonline says it is not from every, while the Shorter Oxford and Merriam-Webster derive it partly or wholly from every and where.^[3][4] Old English also had ǣghwǣr “everywhere”.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

“In every place, in all places”: about 1200 in Etymonline,^[2] before 1225 in the OED.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It was formerly also written as separate words.^[3] From 1674 the OED records a rare adjective use, “all-pervading”,^[5] and a noun, “all places or directions”, the everywhere, for infinite or omnipresent space, is recorded before 1631.^[5] “In many places, met with commonly”, colloquial, is from the early 20th century.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 1200 – in every place.^[2]
• a. 1631 – noun, all places.^[5]
• 1674 – adjective, all-pervading.^[5]
• early 20th century – in many places.^[3]

Modern meaning

Adverb

1. In every place; in all places.
2. In many places; very widespread.

Noun

1. All places or directions.

Word family

• almost everywhere

Related words

• anywhere
• everybody
• everyone
• everything
• nowhere
• somewhere
• ever
• every
• where
• everyday

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c d Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press