Lexic.us

Definition of Either

1. Adverb. After a negative statement used as an intensive meaning something like 'likewise' or 'also'. "If you don't order dessert I won't either"

Definition of Either

1. a. & pron. One of two; the one or the other; -- properly used of two things, but sometimes of a larger number, for any one.

2. conj. Either precedes two, or more, coördinate words or phrases, and is introductory to an alternative. It is correlative to or.

Definition of Either

1. Determiner. Each of two. (defdate from 9th c.) ¹

2. Determiner. One or the other of two. (defdate from 14th c.) ¹

3. Pronoun. (obsolete) Both, each of two (people or things). ¹

4. Pronoun. One or other of two people or things. ¹

5. Adverb. (context: conjunctive after a negative) as well ¹

6. Conjunction. Introduces the first of two options, the second of which is introduced by "or". ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Either

1. being one or the other [adj]

Medical Definition of Either

1. 1. One of two; the one or the other; properly used of two things, but sometimes of a larger number, for any one. "Lepidus flatters both, Of both is flattered; but he neither loves, Nor either cares for him." (Shak) "Scarce a palm of ground could be gotten by either of the three." (Bacon) "There have been three talkers in Great British, either of whom would illustrate what I say about dogmatists." (Holmes) 2. Each of two; the one and the other; both; formerly, also, each of any number. "His flowing hair In curls on either cheek played." (Milton) "On either side . . . Was there the tree of life." (Rev. Xxii. 2) "The extreme right and left of either army never engaged." (Jowett (Thucyd)) Origin: OE. Either, aither, AS. Ger, ghwaeer (akin to OHG. Ogiwedar, MHG. Iegeweder); a + ge + hwaeer whether. See Each, and Whether, and cf. Or, conj. Precedes two, or more, coordinate words or phrases, and is introductory to an alternative. It is correlative to or. "Either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth." (1 Kings xviii. 27) "Few writers hesitate to use either in what is called a triple alternative; such as, We must either stay where we are, proceed, or recede." (Latham) Either was formerly sometimes used without any correlation, and where we should now use or. "Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs??" (James III. 12) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Either

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