forever English · revision 3691

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=late 14th century|origins=en for, en ever}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /fəˈrev.ə/, US /fɔːrˈev.ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|for ever]],^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline) [[af|en|for|ever]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ For all time: the late 14th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) before 1375 in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) written separately.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was often written as one word from the late 17th century,^(Etymonline) the OED's first example of forever being from 1670.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) The noun, “eternity” or a seemingly endless time, is from 1858.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) The emphatic [[forevermore]] is from 1819 in Etymonline^(Etymonline) or 1837 in the OED.^(OED 1989) In Lake District dialect forever meant “too much”.^(Wright 1898) British usage still often writes it separately.^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * late 14th century – ''for ever''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1670 – written as one word.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1819 – ''forevermore''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1858 – noun, eternity.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # For all time; [[eternity|alt=eternally]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # At all times; continually: ''forever complaining''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A very long time, or one that seems so.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[foreverness]]

+ * [[forevermore]]

+ * [[live-forever]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[everlasting]]

+ * [[ever]]

+ * [[every]]

+ * [[everyday]]

+ * [[evermore]]

+ * [[never]]

+ * [[nevermore]]

+ * [[whatever]]

+ * [[whenever]]

+ * [[whoever]]

+ * [[aye]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}