† evenheadn.
Obsolete.
1. Fairness, equity, justice.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > rightness or justice > [noun] > fairness or equity
evennessOE
rightOE
equityc1315
evenheadc1350
charityc1430
evenhood1496
consciencea1538
equalness1548
equality1556
equanimity1607
candour1616
equitableness1648
candidness1661
just1667
both-sidedness1845
c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) cx. 7 (MED) Alle hys comaundementz ben trew..made in soþenes & euenhede [L. æquitate].
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) ii. l. 823 Boþe riche & pouere he ȝemed in euenhede.
c1450 (c1400) Bk. Vices & Virtues (Huntington) (1942) 153 (MED) A man be ariȝt jugge and holde þe riȝt lyne of euenhede bitwene hym & þat þat is vnder hym.
1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer iii. f. ccclv/2 By euenhed profitably to raigne.
2. Equality or rank, status, or excellence. Also: a person or thing of equal rank or status, a peer.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > [noun]
comparison1340
evennessa1398
evenhead?a1400
equipollencec1430
pareil?c1450
equalityc1460
comparation1483
egalness1526
equalness1530
equivalency1535
eveningc1540
equivalencea1542
indifferency1569
owelty1579
coequality1583
mateship1593
equal1596
adequation1605
parity1609
parility1610
matchableness1611
equipollency1623
equiparance1624
egality1628
equipage1633
comparitya1635
omniparity1635
peership1641
exequation1656
equipoise1658
equipotency1658
countervalue1660
adequateness1664
commensurablenessa1676
peerage1681
égalité1794
peerdom1891
society > society and the community > social class > [noun] > one's social equal(s)
fellowc1225
compeera1400
evenhead?a1400
checkmate?1504
comparec1540
mate1563
collateral1623
assessor1667
grade1827
Jones1879
peer1940
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) ii. l. 6100 Sir Edward..suilk on wild he take, his euenhed in mariage.
?a1425 (a1396) W. Hilton Scale of Perfection (Lamb. 472) (2000) ii. xxviii. l. 1841 He schal receyve up hem above othere chosen soulis to the evenehede of Cherubyn and Seraphyn.
1483 Catholicon Anglicum (BL Add. 89074) (1881) 118 An Evyn-hede, equalitas.
a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) xviii. §7. 70 He stegh in til heuen, til the euenhede and ioy of his fadere.
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Riv/1 Euenheads, coæquales.
3. Calmness, equanimity; moderation.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > calmness > [noun]
resteOE
peacea1225
egalityc1374
tranquillityc1374
peaceabilityc1384
sobernessc1384
tranquille1412
quietness?a1425
evenheadc1440
equalitya1475
equability1531
sobermood1556
calmness1561
evenness1561
serenity1599
collection1602
equilibrium1608
calm1609
temperateness1609
composedness1611
recollection1611
temper1611
unpassionateness1611
placidity1619
sereneness1628
attemperature1635
quietationa1639
equableness1641
steadiness1642
sedateness1647
imperturbation1648
placidness1654
centredness1662
equanimity1663
composure1667
serenitude1672
equalness1675
unperturbedness1676
dispassion1690
quietism1735
serene1744
relaxednessa1750
self-composure1762
sober-mindedness1767
collectedness1789
unprovokedness1795
comfortableness1815
repose1815
levelness1824
dispassionateness1842
unruffledness1858
passionlessness1867
c1440 ( J. Gaytryge Lay Folks' Catech. (Thornton) in G. G. Perry Relig. Pieces in Prose & Verse (1914) 11 Þat kepes vs fra owterage and haldes vs in euenhede.
1483 Catholicon Anglicum (BL Add. 89074) (1881) 118 Evyn-hede, equalitas, equanimitas, equipollencia, equalencia, parilitas.
a1500 (?a1425) tr. Secreta Secret. (Lamb.) 67 (MED) Who so kepys hym fro superfluyte and also fro defaute, and holdes him yn euenhed and attemperance.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2018; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.c1350