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eventful
also TAX EVASION 2 [C] something evasive, especially an
attempt to avoid telling the whole truth: The minister's
speech was full of evasions.
e·va·sive /ɪˈveɪsɪv/ adj 1 derog not direct; trying to hide the
truth: She gave an evasive answer. 2 intended to avoid being
hit, seized etc: If the bullets start coming this way take
evasive action. —ly adv —ness n [U]
eve /iːv/ n 1 [U] (usually cap.) the night or day before the stated
religious day or holiday: We're giving a party on Christmas
Eve. | December 31st is New Year's Eve. 2 [the S (of)] the time
just before an important event: On the eve of the election no
one was confident enough to predict the result. 3 [U] poet
evening
Eve the first woman, according to the Jewish, Christian, and
Islamic religions. In the Old Testament of the Bible, Eve lived
in the Garden of EDEN with ADAM, the first man, and
persuaded him to eat a fruit which God had forbidden them
to eat. → see also FALL, THE
e·ven¹ /'iːvən/ adv 1 (used just before the surprising part of a
statement, to add to its strength) which is more than might
be expected: Even the younger children enjoyed the concert.
(=so certainly everyone else did) | The younger children even
enjoyed the concert. (=so certainly they enjoyed everything
else) | He's a strict vegetarian – he doesn't even eat cheese. | She
was so weak after the illness that she couldn't even walk
without help. 2 (used for making comparisons stronger) still;
yet: It was cold yesterday, but it's even colder today. 3 (used
for adding force to an expression) (and) one might almost
say; INDEED: He looked depressed, even suicidal. | He looked
depressed, suicidal even. 4 even as just at the same moment
as: I tried to phone her, but even as I was phoning she was
leaving the building. 5 even if no matter if: Even if we could
afford it, we wouldn't go abroad for our holidays. (=because
we don't want to. Compare If we could afford it, we'd (like to)
go abroad for our holidays.) 6 even now/so/then in spite of
what has/had happened; though that is true: I explained
everything, but even then he didn't understand. | It was
raining, but even so we had to go out. 7 even though though:
Even though it was raining, we had to go out.
even² adj 1 [(with)] flat, level, and smooth; forming a straight
line: After driving on the bumpy surface, it was nice to get
back onto even ground. | Cut the bushes even with the fence.
(=not higher and not lower) 2 [(with)] (of things that can be
measured and compared) equal: She won the first game and I
won the second, so now we're even/I'm even with her. | He
cheated me, but I'll get even with him (=harm him as he has
harmed me) one day. | He stands an even chance of winning.
(=it is equally likely that he will win or lose) → see also
EVENS, BREAK EVEN 3 (of a number) that can be divided
exactly by two: 2, 4, 6, 8 etc are even numbers. → opposite
ODD 4 regular and unchanging: travelling at an even speed |
She has a very even temperament. (=stays calm and doesn't
often get angry or excited) → compare UNEVEN —ly adv
—ness n [U]
even³ v
even out phr v [i;T(= even sthg. ⇔ out)] to (cause to) become
level or equal: Prices have been rising very fast, but they
should even out soon. | The loss of their best player has evened
out the difference between the teams.
even sthg. ⇔ up phr v [T] to make equal or fairer; produce a
fair balance in: You've paid for the meal, so if I pay for the
taxi that'll even things up.
even⁴ n [U] poet evening
even 'field n EVEN PLAYING FIELD
even-'handed adj giving fair and equal treatment to all sides;
IMPARTIAL
eve·ning /'iːvnɪŋ/ n 1 [C;U] the end of the day and early
part of the night, between sunset or the end of the day's
work and bedtime: a warm evening | on Tuesday evenings |
I'll work in the evening. | an evening party | (fig.) People look
forward to security in the evening (=end part) of their lives. →
compare AFTERNOON and see also EVENINGS 2 [C] enter-
tainment of the stated type, happening in the early part of
the night: Will you come to our musical evening on Thurs-
day? 3 evenin' all quote a phrase that means: good evening,
everyone
CULTURAL NOTE This phrase was used by the policeman,
Dixon, at the beginning of each programme of DIXON OF
DOCK GREEN, an old British television programme. People
sometimes say this as a joke when they meet their friends
in the evening, or when they are pretending to be a
policeman.
'evening class n a lesson which usually adults attend in the
evenings: Details of evening classes are given below.
evening dress
morning dress
white tie
black tie
'evening dress n 1 [U] special clothes worn for formal
occasions in the evening, usually a formal suit and a BOW TIE
for men and a long dress for women 2 also evening gown
[C] a usually long dress worn by women on such formal
occasions
,evening 'meal n especially BrE the main meal of the day,
usually eaten between about 6 and 8 o'clock in the evening:
Bed, breakfast, and evening meal £22.50. | We get an evening
meal when we're on the late shift.
eve·nings /'iːvnɪŋz/ adv especially AmE in the evening repeat-
edly; during any evening: I'm always at home evenings.
,Evening 'Standard, The also The Standard a TABLOID
newspaper sold in London in the afternoon from Monday to
Friday. Many people read it when travelling home from
work on the train.
,evening 'star, the n (often cap.) a bright PLANET, usually
Venus, seen in the western sky in the evening → compare
MORNING STAR
,even 'playing field also even field n especially BrE a
situation in which competitors can compete without any of
them having unfair disadvantages. This expression is often
used when people are talking about economic competition,
e.g. when someone is complaining that THIRD WORLD coun-
tries do not get a fair chance.
e·vens /'iːvənz/ especially BrE || ,even 'odds especially AmE — n
infml chances that are the same for and against: The chances
of her coming are about evens. (=equally likely that she will
or won't)
e·ven·song /'iːvənsɒŋ||-sɔːŋ/ n [U(often cap.)] the evening
religious service in the Church of England. This service is
often sung, and many British COMPOSERS have written music
for it. → compare COMPLINE, MORNING PRAYER, VESPERS
e·vent /ɪˈvent/ n 1 [C] a happening, especially an important,
interesting, or unusual one: The programme reviews the most
important events of 1985. | The article discusses the (course of)
events which led up to his resignation. | a social/sporting
event → see also HAPPY EVENT, NON-EVENT 2 [C] any of the
races, competitions etc arranged as part of a day's sports:
The next event will be the 100 metres race. → see also FIELD
EVENT, THREE-DAY EVENT 3 [(the) S] a (possible) case: In the
event of rain (=if it rains), the party will be held indoors. | I'll
probably see you tomorrow, but in any event (=even if I
don't) I'll phone. | I don't know whether I'm going by car or by
train, but in either event (=whichever I do) I'll need
money. 4 at all events in spite of everything; at least: She
had a terrible accident, but at all events she wasn't killed. 5 in
the event especially BrE as it happened; when it actually
happened: We were afraid he would be nervous on stage, but
in the event he performed beautifully.
,even-'tempered adj having a calm good temper; not easily
made angry; EQUABLE
e·vent·ful /ɪˈventfəl/ adj full of interesting or exciting