either definition - Dictionary

MSN homeMailMy MSN

encartagreeting cards

encarta®

Dictionary

Thesaurus

Translations

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

	eightfold path

	eighth

	eighth note

	eighth rest

	eightieth

	eightpenny nail

	eightsome reel

	eightvo

	eighty

	Eighty-Mile Beach

	eighty-six

	EIL

	Eilat

	Eildon and Leaderfoot

	-ein

	Eindhoven

	einkorn

Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

either

ei·ther [ ər, ər ] CORE MEANING: a grammatical word used to indicate or connect two situations, one of which may include or exclude the other

(adj) It won't make much difference either way.

(pron) I refuse to meet either of them.

(conj) Either there's a problem or there isn't.

(adv) I don't want to go either.

Definition:

1. adjective one or other: one or the other, when it does not matter which

(adj) You can execute commands on either machine.

(pron) If either fell behind, the other would help him to catch up.

(pron) You can get this information from either of the two addressees.

either of them

2. adjective indicates negative: used to refer negatively to each of two situations, where the negative includes them both

(adj) You cannot send e-mails to either address at the moment.

(pron) I'm not interested in either of them.

3. adjective both: both of two things

The red and yellow patches on either side of the Sun are radiation from the dust ring.

4. conj indicates alternatives: used preceding alternatives joined by "or" to indicate that there is a choice between two or more options

Data sources may be either digital or analog.

5. adverb indicates connection: used in a negative statement that indicates a connection or a partial agreement with a previous statement ( at the end of a second statement )

You won't find the conditions exactly spartan, but don't expect luxury hotels either.

[ Old English ǣgþer, contraction of ǣg(e)hwæþer< Germanic, "always each of two"]

Word Usage


	Singular or plural after either? Either is normally used with a singular verb: Has either of you been to Paris?Either Lee or David is responsible. Informally, however, the plural is used when the choices are regarded collectively rather than individually, and it is quite natural to say Have either of you been to Paris?, which permits the possibility that both the people addressed have done so. When either...or... occurs with a mixture of singular and plural subjects, the verb traditionally agrees with the subject that is closer to it: Either Lee or his parents are at home.