either English · revision 3611

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 900 (Old English ǣgþer)}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈaɪ.ðə/, /ˈiː.ðə/, US /ˈiː.ðɚ/, /ˈaɪ.ðɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|either]] (also [[m|enm|aither]]), [[inh|ang|ǣgþer|t=each of two, both]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) a contraction of [[m|ang|ǣghwæþer]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) formed from [[m|ang|ā|t=always]], the collective prefix [[m|ang|ge-]] and [[m|ang|hwæþer|t=which of two]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) so that Hoad explains it as “ever each of two”.^(Hoad 1986) It is related to [[aye]] and [[whether]],^(COED 2004)^(Hoad 1986) and to [[de|jeder|t=each, every]] and [[nl|ieder]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Each of two, both: Old English ''ǣgþer'', before 900, in Alfred's translation of Orosius.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The form ''either'' appears probably about 1175, still meaning “both, every”.^(Barnhart 1988) The modern sense “one or the other of two” arose about 1290^(Barnhart 1988) or in the late 13th century,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) and has prevailed, though ''on either side'' keeps the old meaning.^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD) The conjunction ''either ... or'' is from about 1250,^(Barnhart 1988) and the emphatic adverb after a negative, as in ''I don't either'', from the 15th century^(MW Collegiate) or, in Etymonline's dating, by 1828.^(Etymonline) ''Either-or'', for an unavoidable choice, is from 1931, and partly reflects Kierkegaard's book ''Enten-Eller'' (1843).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 900 – Old English ''ǣgþer'' (Alfred).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1175 – ''either'', both.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1250 – ''either ... or''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1290 – one or the other.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 15th century – adverb.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1931 – ''either-or''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Determiner===

+ # One or the other of two.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Each of two; both: ''trees on either side''.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ===Pronoun===

+ # The one or the other.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Conjunction===

+ # Used before the first of two or more alternatives linked by ''or''.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Likewise, also; used after a negative statement.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[either-or]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[neither]]

+ * [[whether]]

+ * [[aye]]

+ * [[each]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The traditional rule, as the American Heritage Dictionary notes, limits ''either'' to one of two and requires ''any'' for more than two, though reputable writers have often broken it.^(AHD) In British English, the Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary notes that /ˈiː.ðə/ seems to be gaining ground among younger speakers.^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}