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
- In every place; in all places.
- In many places; very widespread.
Noun
- All places or directions.
Word family
- almost everywhere
Related words
References
- ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
- ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
- ^ 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
- ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
- ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press