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Ever and anon

 - 6 dictionary results

a⋅non

[uh-non]
–adverb
1. in a short time; soon.
2. at another time.
3. Archaic. at once; immediately.
4. ever and anon, now and then; occasionally.

Origin:
bef. 1000; ME anon, anoon, OE on āne in one (course), i.e., straightaway

ev⋅er

[ev-er]
–adverb
1. at all times; always: an ever-present danger; He is ever ready to find fault.
2. continuously: ever since then.
3. at any time: Have you ever seen anything like it?
4. in any possible case; by any chance; at all (often used to intensify or emphasize a phrase or an emotional reaction as surprise or impatience): How did you ever manage to do it? If the band ever plays again, we will dance.
–adjective
5. South Midland and Southern U.S. every: She rises early ever morning.
6. ever and again, now and then; from time to time. Also, Literary, ever and anon.
7. ever so, to a great extent or degree; exceedingly: They were ever so kind to me.

Origin:
bef. 1000; ME; OE ǣfre


1. eternally, perpetually, constantly. See always.


1. never.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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a·non   (ə-nŏn')   
adv.  
  1. At another time; later.

  2. In a short time; soon.

  3. Archaic At once; forthwith.


[Middle English, at once, from Old English on ān : on, in; see on + ān, one; see oi-no- in Indo-European roots.]
ev·er   (ěv'ər)   
adv.  
  1. At all times; always: ever hoping to strike it rich.

    1. At any time: Have you ever been to Europe?

    2. In any way; at all: How did they ever manage? See Usage Note at rarely.

  2. To a great extent or degree. Used for emphasis often with so: He was ever so sorry. Was she ever mad!


[Middle English, from Old English ǣfre; see aiw- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

ever 
O.E. æfre, no cognates in any other Gmc. language; perhaps a contraction of a in feore, lit. "ever in life" (the expression a to fore is common in O.E. writings). First element is almost certainly related to O.E. a "always, ever," from P.Gmc. *aiwo, from PIE *aiw- "vital force, life, long life, eternity." Evermore is O.E. æfre ma; in ref. to trees and shrubs, evergreen is from 1644, figurative sense from 1796; Everglades is from 1827, U.S., perhaps from sense of "interminable."

anon 
O.E., on an "into one, straightway (in one course), at once" (see one); by gradual misuse, "soon, in a little while" (1526).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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