either

either
[[t]a͟ɪðə(r), i͟ːðə(r)[/t]]
♦
1) CONJ-COORD You use either in front of the first of two or more alternatives, when you are stating the only possibilities or choices that there are. The other alternatives are introduced by `or'.

They gave money to the Conservative Party either personally or through their companies...

Sightseeing is best done either by tour bus or by bicycles...

The former President was demanding that he should be either put on trial or set free...

Either she goes or I go.

2) CONJ-COORD You use either in a negative statement in front of the first of two alternatives to indicate that the negative statement refers to both the alternatives.

...music that fails to be either funny or funky...

There had been no indication of either breathlessness or any loss of mental faculties right until his death.

3) PRON You can use either to refer to one of two things, people, or situations, when you want to say that they are both possible and it does not matter which one is chosen or considered.

There were glasses of iced champagne and cigars. Unfortunately not many of either were consumed...

If either were killed, delicate negotiations would be seriously disrupted.

QUANT: QUANT of def-pl-n
Either is also a quantifier.

They are able to talk openly to one another whenever either of them feels hurt... Do either of you smoke or drink heavily?

DET: DET sing-n
Either is also a determiner.

...a special Indian drug police that would have the authority to pursue suspects into either country.

4) PRON: with brd-neg You use either in a negative statement to refer to each of two things, people, or situations to indicate that the negative statement includes both of them.

She warned me that I'd never marry or have children. - `I don't want either.'

QUANT
Either is also a quantifier.

There are no simple answers to either of those questions.

DET
Either is also a determiner.

He sometimes couldn't remember either man's name.

5) ADV: ADV after v, with brd-neg You use either by itself in negative statements to indicate that there is a similarity or connection with a person or thing that you have just mentioned.

He did not even say anything to her, and she did not speak to him either...

`I'm afraid I've never been there.' - `Well, of course, I haven't myself either.'

6) ADV: ADV after v When one negative statement follows another, you can use either at the end of the second one to indicate that you are adding an extra piece of information, and to emphasize that both are equally important.

Don't agree, but don't argue either...

I can't manage that by myself and I don't see why it should be expected of me either.

7) DET: DET sing-n You can use either to introduce a noun that refers to each of two things when you are talking about both of them.

The basketball nets hung down from the ceiling at either end of the gymnasium...

I suddenly realized that I didn't have a single intelligent thing to say about either team.


English dictionary. 2008.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат
Synonyms:
(of two) / (of several) / (of two), ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • either — 1. pronunciation. The pronunciations iy dhǝ and ee dhǝ are about equally common. 2. parts of speech. Either functions in two ways: as an adjective or pronoun, and as an adverb or conjunction. In all these uses, it means essentially ‘one or other… …   Modern English usage

  • either — [ē′thər, ī′thər] adj. [ME < OE æghwæther < a (æ), always (see AY) + gehwæther, each of two (see WHETHER): akin to, and of same formation as, OHG eogihwedar] 1. one or the other (of two) [use either hand] 2. each (of two); the one and the… …   English World dictionary

  • Either — Ei ther ([=e] [th][ e]r or [imac] [th][ e]r; 277), a. & pron. [OE. either, aither, AS. [=ae]g[eth]er, [=ae]ghw[ae][eth]er (akin to OHG. [=e]ogiwedar, MHG. iegeweder); [=a] + ge + hw[ae][eth]er whether. See {Each}, and {Whether}, and cf. {Or},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Either — Ei ther, conj. Either precedes two, or more, co[ o]rdinate words or phrases, and is introductory to an alternative. It is correlative to or. [1913 Webster] Either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • either —  Either suggests a duality and is almost always better avoided when the context involves quantities of more than two, as in Decisions on Mansfield’s economy are now made in either Detroit, Pittsburgh, or New York. Often in such constructions,… …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

  • Either/Or — Album par Elliott Smith Sortie 27 février 1997 Durée 37:00 Genre(s) Rock indépendant Producteur(s) Elliott Smith Tom Rothrock Rob Schnapf …   Wikipédia en Français

  • either...or ...or — either...or (...or) phrase used for showing two or more possibilities or choices You must answer either yes or no. You can contact us either by phone, by email, or by letter. When there’s a crisis, they either do nothing or do something totally… …   Useful english dictionary

  • either — O.E. ægðer, contraction of æghwæðer each of two, both, from a always (see AYE (Cf. aye) (2)) + ge collective prefix + hwæðer which of two, whether (see WHETHER (Cf. whether)). Cognate with Du. ieder, O.H.G. eogiwedar, G …   Etymology dictionary

  • Either — Either/or means one or the other. Its usage, versus the simple or structure, is often for emphatic purposes, sometimes intending to emphasize that only one option is possible, or to emphasize that there are only two options. Its use in a sentence …   Wikipedia

  • either — ► CONJUNCTION & ADVERB 1) used before the first of two (or occasionally more) alternatives specified (the other being introduced by ‘or’). 2) (adverb ) used to indicate a similarity or link with a statement just made: You don t like him, do you?… …   English terms dictionary

  • either-or — [ē′thərôr′] adj. designating a proposition, situation, etc. limited to only two alternatives …   English World dictionary

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