either

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English either, from Old English ǣġhwæþer, from Proto-West Germanic *aiw + *gahwaþar. Akin to Old Saxon eogihwethar, iahwethar (Low German jeed); Old Dutch *iogewether, *iowether, *iother (Dutch ieder); Old High German eogihwedar, iegihweder, ieweder (German jeder). === Pronunciation === Hyphenation: ei‧ther enPR: ī′thər, ē′thər, Rhymes: -aɪðə(ɹ), -iːðə(ɹ) (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈaɪ.ðə/, /ˈiː.ðə/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈaɪ.ðɚ/, /ˈi.ðɚ/ (North India) IPA(key): /ˈi.d̪ʱə(r)/, /ˈɑj.d̪ʱə(r)/ enPR: ā′thər (Northern England) IPA(key): /ˈeɪ.ðə(ɹ)/ (rare: in use until the 20th c.) (South India) IPA(key): /ˈɛj.d̪ə(r)/ In the UK, /aɪ/ is used more in Southern England, and /iː/ is more usual in Northern England. In North America, /iː/ is most common, but /aɪ/ is predominant in some regions. Note that even if one pronunciation is more common in a region, the pronunciation used varies by individual speaker and sometimes by situation. /eɪ/ was once heard in Northern England, but has now largely fallen into disuse. === Determiner === either Any one (of two). Coordinate terms: each; both Each of two; both. [from 9th c.] (often proscribed) Any one (of more than two). Jonathan Swift (1726), Gulliver's Travels, 1st edition: ==== Usage notes ==== When there are more than two alternatives, in the sense of “one of several” or “one of many”, any is now often used instead. Use of either with more than two (mutually exclusive) options remains common informally, but a usage prescription against it is so widely known that it is usually avoided formally. This fact about either […] or is likewise true of neither […] nor. ==== Translations ==== === Pronoun === either One or the other of two people or things. (obsolete) Both, each of two or more. === Adverb === either (not comparable) (conjunctive, after a negative) As well. ==== Usage notes ==== After a positive statement, too is commonly used: “I like him, and I like her too.” Either is sometimes used, especially in North American English, where neither would be more traditionally accurate: “I’m not hungry.” “Me either.” ==== Translations ==== === Conjunction === either Introduces the first of two (or occasionally more) options or possibilities, the second (or last) of which is introduced by “or”. ==== Translations ==== === Derived terms === === See also === neither nor or === References === “either”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022. === Anagrams === Ethier, theire == Middle English == === Alternative forms === ayther, æȝþer, ethir, eiþer, outher === Etymology === From Old English ǣġþer, a contraction of ǣġhwæþer. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈæi̯ðər/, (less commonly) /ˈɛːðər/, (possibly) /ˈiːðər/ (from unstressed forms) IPA(key): /ˈɛðər/ === Determiner === either Both of two. Each of two. Either of two. ==== Descendants ==== English: either Scots: aither === Pronoun === either Both of two members of a group. Each of two members of a group. Either of two members of a group. ==== Descendants ==== English: either Scots: aither === Adjective === either Both, all, or any of a set. Each of a group. === References === “either, pron.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 20 February 2018. “either, conj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007. == Woiwurrung == === Adverb === either whither === See also === intoorring (“where, whereabouts”) === References ===