Even-

Origin

From Middle English even-, efen-, from Old English efen- ("equal, fellow-, co-"), from Proto-Germanic *ebna- ("like-, level, equal-", prefix/combining form.), from *ebnaz ("equal, even"); same as Old English efen ("equal, even, level"). More at even. Cognate with Scots evin- ("equal-"), Old Frisian ivin-, evn- ("even-"), Old High German eban- ("even-").

Full definition of even-

Prefix

1. (rare, dialectal or no longer productive) Prefix occurring mostly in older terms, bearing the meaning of equal-, co-, fellow-, joint-.even-bishop, even-christian, even-knight, even-servant, even-sucker
2. Prefix used chiefly in parasynthetic derivatives with the sense of even.even-carriaged, even-edged, even-tempered, even-toed, evenwise
3. Prefix meaning equally, similarly, same.even-clad, even-high, even-right, even-worth, evenmete, evenold
4. Prefix meaning evenly, straight, direct, according to.even-pleached, even-set, even-spun, even-deed, even-down, even-forth

Derived terms