either

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.2.1 Usage notes 1.3 Determiner 1.3.1 Synonyms 1.3.2 Translations 1.4 Pronoun 1.5 Adverb 1.5.1 Usage notes 1.5.2 Synonyms 1.5.3 Translations 1.6 Conjunction 1.6.1 Translations 1.7 Usage notes 1.8 See also 1.9 Anagrams

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Old English ǣġhwæþer, from West Germanic, ultimately corresponding to ay + whether

[edit] Pronunciation

• (Australia, UK, US)
  • enPR: ēth'ə(r), IPA: /ˈiːð.ə(ɹ)/, SAMPA: /"i:D.@(r)/
  • Hyphenation: eeTH-er
  • Rhymes: -iːðə(r)
  •  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• (Australia, Canadian, UK, US)
  • enPR: īth'ə(r), IPA: /ˈaɪð.ə(r)/, SAMPA: /"aID.@(r)/
  • Hyphenation: aiTH-er
  • Rhymes: -aɪðə(r)

[edit] Usage notes

In the UK the first pronunciation is generally more used in southern England, while the latter is more usual in northern England. However this is an oversimplification and which is actually used can vary by individual speaker and sometimes also by situation.

[edit] Determiner

either

1. one or the other (of two)

   I don't mind whether your mother or father attends - you can bring either parent.

   • 2009, A contract:

     ...be binding upon either party and its respective legal successors

   • 2009, A contract:

     in no event shall either party be precluded from discussing

2. each of two

   The room has a door at either end.

[edit] Synonyms

• (one or the other):
• (each of two): both, each

[edit] Translations

[edit] Pronoun

either

1. (obsolete) Both (people or things).
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VII:

     Than ayther departed to theire tentis and made hem redy to horsebacke as they thought beste.

2. One or other of two people or things.

[edit] Adverb

either (not comparable)

1. (after a negative) as well

   I don't like him and I don't like her either.

[edit] Usage notes

either is sometimes used, especially in North American English, where neither would be more traditionally accurate: "I'm not hungry." "Me either."

[edit] Synonyms

• neither
• too

[edit] Translations

[edit] Conjunction

either

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

   Either you eat your dinner or you go to your room.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Usage notes

• When there are more than two alternatives, "any" is used instead.

[edit] See also

• neither
• nor
• or

[edit] Anagrams

• Alphagram: eehirt
• theire