either

Det

1. Any one (of two).
2. Each of two; both.
3. (often, proscribed) Any one (of more than two).

Pron

1. One or the other of two people or things.
2. (obsolete) Both, each of two or more.

Adv

As well.

Conj

Introduces the first of two (or occasionally more) options or possibilities, the second (or last) of which is introduced by “or”.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈaɪ.ðə(ɹ)/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: either

Inherited from Old English: ǣġhwæþer

Cognate with Old Saxon: eogihwethar

Cognate with Low German: jeed

Cognate with Old Dutch: *iogewether

Cognate with Dutch: ieder

Cognate with Old High German: eogihwedar

Cognate with German: jeder

In summary

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).

Synonyms

or

any

whether

also

every

🔁

too

perhaps

as well

both

neither

each

respectively

whichever

all

one of two

one

on the contrary

person

🧑‍🦱

really

regardless

severally

somebody

someone

soul

whatever

either one

or else

although

anybody

any one

else

even

even if

even though

human

individual

less

likewise

maybe

mortal

nor

Translations

ou

entweder

soit

o

non plus

chaque

of

tampoco

o

beide

nemmeno

ciascuno

είτε

εκάτερος

l’uno o l’altro

Sentences

They certainly did not waste it either .

Each plant produces either functionally male flowers or functionally female flowers .