ever

[ev-er] /ˈɛv ər/
adverb
1.
at all times; always:
an ever-present danger; He is ever ready to find fault.
2.
continuously:
ever since then.
3.
at any time:
Have you ever seen anything like it?
4.
in any possible case; by any chance; at all (often used to intensify or emphasize a phrase or an emotional reaction as surprise or impatience):
How did you ever manage to do it? If the band ever plays again, we will dance.
adjective
5.
South Midland and Southern U.S. every:
She rises early ever morning.
Idioms
6.
ever and again, now and then; from time to time.
Also, Literary, ever and anon.
7.
ever so, to a great extent or degree; exceedingly:
They were ever so kind to me.
Origin
before 1000; Middle English; Old English ǣfre
Synonyms
1. eternally, perpetually, constantly. See always.
Antonyms
1. never.
British Dictionary definitions for ever and again

ever

/ˈɛvə/
adverb
1.
at any time: have you ever seen it?
2.
by any chance; in any case: how did you ever find out?
3.
at all times; always: ever busy
4.
in any possible way or manner: come as fast as ever you can
5.
(informal, mainly Brit) (intensifier, in the phrases ever so, ever such, and ever such a): ever so good, ever such bad luck, ever such a waste
6.
(archaic) ever and again, ever and anon, now and then; from time to time
7.
(US & Canadian, slang) is he ever!, he displays the quality concerned in abundance
See also forever
Word Origin
Old English ǣfre, of uncertain origin
Word Origin and History for ever and again

ever

adv.

Old English æfre "ever, at any time, always;" no cognates in any other Germanic language; perhaps a contraction of a in feore, literally "ever in life" (the expression a to fore is common in Old English writings).

First element is almost certainly related to Old English a "always, ever," from Proto-Germanic *aiwo, from PIE *aiw- "vital force, life, long life, eternity." (see eon). Liberman suggests second element is comparative adjectival suffix -re.

Slang definitions & phrases for ever and again

ever

adverb

Really; truly; certainly •Used postpositively for emphasis: Boy, has it ever!/ Clinton's generation has already had its chance to make its tastes the country's tastes. Has it ever/ Did we win? Did we ever!


Idioms and Phrases with ever and again

ever and again

Now and then, occasionally. For example, We visit her ever and again. This phrase has largely replaced the earlier ever and anon, dating from the late 1500s, but is less common than every now and then [ Late 1800s ]

ever

In addition to the idiom beginning with
ever
also see: