Etymologically
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even

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Pronunciation

  • /ˈeː.və(n)/[1]

Forms

even (adverb; adjective, not comparable)[1] Colloquial forms are effe, effies, eventjes and effetjes, and in Belgium and southern dialects efkes or effekens.[2] The shorthand ff is used in writing.[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch even, a by-form of the more usual Middle Dutch adjective effen, inherited from Old Dutch *evan, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *ebn, inherited from Proto-Germanic *ebnaz (“even, level”).[2][1] The Old Dutch word is found in the place name ⟨Euinaccar⟩ “level field” (821–823).[2] The same adjective is Old Saxon eƀan, Old High German eban (modern German eben), Old Frisian even, Old English efen (modern English even), Old Norse jafn and Gothic 𐌹𐌱𐌽𐍃 (ibns).[2][3][4] The ⟨ff⟩ of ⟨effen⟩ is a sharpening of ⟨v⟩ before ⟨n⟩.[4][5][6]

In Middle Dutch ⟨effen⟩ was the usual form of the adjective; ⟨even⟩ came into general use in early modern Dutch, and the meanings were then divided: effen kept the spatial “smooth, flat”, while ⟨even⟩ took the abstract senses and the adverb.[2] The same doubling is found in tevens beside ⟨teffens⟩ and nevens beside ⟨neffens⟩.[2]

The EWN finds no convincing Indo-European etymology.[2] Proposals include a root meaning “twin” and a link with Latin imitor (“to imitate”) and imāgō (“image”), but the development to ⟨-mn-⟩ and ⟨-bn-⟩ remains disputed.[2][7][4] Kroonen derives the word from a root Proto-Indo-European *h₁em-, comparing a Sanskrit adverb meaning “just now”, and rejects the older proposals.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Middle Dutch adverb effene, “evenly, exactly”, is recorded in 1236, and even as an adverb of degree, “equally”, around 1240.[2][8][6] In 1284 a Dordrecht charter has effen vele, “as much”.[2][9]

Semantic evolution

The sense “divisible by two” appears with the game even of oneven, guessing “even or odd”: Van der Sijs dates it to 1467, and the Teuthonista of 1477 names the game.[8][2] Since Middle High German had eban “divisible by two” in 1022, the sense is old.[2] The meaning “equal”, as in even groot, survives in compounds such as evenals, evenknie and evenwicht, and in om het even, “all the same”.[2][10][11]

The adverb of time grew out of “just, exactly”: even doen, “just then”, in 1632 and even op dat woort, “just at that word”, in 1656 still need a further phrase.[2] Later even stood alone for “for or within a short time”: Ik had maar even tyd (1764–1775).[2][8] It then became a particle that softens a request by suggesting it takes little time, as in wijs ons reis effen, “just show us” (1835), and a second particle expressing the speaker's surprise: Was Jan effies dapper?, “wasn't John brave!” (1903).[2]

The adverb passed into Javindo, Negerhollands, Kwinti and Caribbean Javanese.[1]

Timeline

  • 821–823 – The Old Dutch place name Euinaccar “level field” is recorded.[2]
  • 1236 – Middle Dutch effene “evenly” is recorded.[2][8]
  • c. 1240 – Even is recorded as an adverb of degree.[8]
  • 1467 – The sense “divisible by two” is recorded.[8]
  • 1632 – Even means “just (then)”.[2]
  • 1659–1673 – Van der Sijs dates the adverb of time “a moment”.[8]
  • 1835 – Effen is used as a softening particle.[2]
  • 1903 – Effies expresses surprise.[2]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. For a moment, briefly: Ik ga even boodschappen doen.[10][1]
  2. A little way: even verderop.[10][12]
  3. Softening a request, implying little effort: Kun je even het raam dichtdoen?[10][1][2]
  4. Emphatic, “really”: Dat was even schrikken![10]
  5. No less than: Hij won even tienduizend euro.[10]
  6. Just as, equally (before an adjective): Ze is even oud als ik.[1][12]
  7. (Netherlands) Quite, rather.[1]

Adjective

  1. even, divisible by two: Acht is even.[10][1]
  2. Equal, the same, only in om het even, all the same, no matter.[10][11]

Word family

  • evenbeeld
  • evenknie
  • eveneens
  • evenmin
  • evenredig
  • evenveel
  • evenzoveel
  • evenals
  • oneven
  • evenen
  • eventjes
  • daareven
  • zo-even
  • evenmens
  • evenwel
  • evenwicht
  • effen
  • English even
  • German eben

Usage notes

An unrelated noun even or evene “oats”, an old borrowing of Latin avena, survives in Flemish dialects for wild oats.[11][13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Philippa, Marlies; Debrabandere, Frans; Quak, Arend; Schoonheim, Tanneke; Sijs, Nicoline van der (2003–2009), Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands, 4 vols., Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press; online via etymologiebank.nl
  3. ^ a b Kroonen, Guus (2013), Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Germanic, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 11, Leiden / Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
  5. ^ Vries, Jan de; Tollenaere, Félicien de (2004), Etymologisch woordenboek: onze woorden, hun oorsprong en ontwikkeling, 23rd ed., Utrecht: Het Spectrum, p. 118
  6. ^ a b Veen, P. A. F. van; Sijs, Nicoline van der (1997), Etymologisch woordenboek: de herkomst van onze woorden, 2nd ed., Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Lexicografie
  7. ^ Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
  9. ^ Pijnenburg, W. J. J., et al. (2001), Vroegmiddelnederlands woordenboek: woordenboek van het Nederlands van de dertiende eeuw in hoofdzaak op basis van het Corpus-Gysseling, Leiden: Instituut voor Nederlandse Lexicologie; gtb.ivdnt.org
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
  11. ^ a b c Vries, Matthias de; Winkel, L. A. te, et al. (1882–1998), Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, 29 vols., 's-Gravenhage / Leiden: Nijhoff / Sijthoff / SDU; supplement 2001; gtb.ivdnt.org
  12. ^ a b WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org
  13. ^ Debrabandere, Frans (2005), Oost-Vlaams en Zeeuws-Vlaams etymologisch woordenboek, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Atlas