EITHER

either

(adverb) after a negative statement used as an intensive meaning something like ‘likewise’ or ‘also’; “he isn’t stupid, but he isn’t exactly a genius either”; “I don’t know either”; “if you don’t order dessert I won’t either”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Determiner

either

Any one (of two).

Each of two; both. [from 9th c.]

(now, rare) Any one (of more than two).

Usage notes

• When there are more than two alternatives, in the sense of “one of many”, any is now generally used instead.

Synonyms

• (each of two): both, each

Pronoun

either

One or other of two people or things.

(obsolete) Both, each of two or more.

Adverb

either (not comparable)

(conjunctive, after a negative) As well.

Usage notes

After a positive statement, too is commonly used: “I like him, and I like her too.”

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

Conjunction

either

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

Anagrams

• Ethier, theire

Source: Wiktionary

Ei"ther, a. & pron. Etym: [OE. either, aither, AS. , (akin to OHG. , MHG. iegeweder); a + ge + hwæ whether. See Each, and Whether, and cf. Or, conj.]

1. One of two; the one or the other; -- properly used of two things, but sometimes of a larger number, for any one. Lepidus flatters both, Of both is flattered; but he neither loves, Nor either cares for him. Shak. Scarce a palm of ground could be gotten by either of the three. Bacon. There have been three talkers in Great British, either of whom would illustrate what I say about dogmatists. Holmes.

2. Each of two; the one and the other; both; -- formerly, also, each of any number. His flowing hair In curls on either cheek played. Milton. On either side . . . was there the tree of life. Rev. xxii. 2. The extreme right and left of either army never engaged. Jowett (Thucyd).

Ei"ther, conj. Either

Definition: precedes two, or more, coördinate words or phrases, and is introductory to an alternative. It is correlative to or. Either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth. 1 Kings xviii. 27. Few writers hesitate to use either in what is called a triple alternative; such as, We must either stay where we are, proceed, or recede. Latham.

Note: Either was formerly sometimes used without any correlation, and where we should now use or. Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries either a vine, figs James iii. 12.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition