either

one or the other: It’s either too hot or too cold.
Not to be confused with:ether – an anesthetic; the upper regions of space; the heavens

ei·ther

E0062100 (ē′thər, ī′thər)pron. The one or the other: Which movie do you want to see? Either will be fine.conj. Used before the first of two or more coordinates or clauses linked by or: Either we go now or we remain here forever.adj.1. Any one of two; one or the other: Wear either coat.2. One and the other; each: rings on either hand.adv. Likewise; also. Used as an intensive following negative statements: If you don't order a dessert, I won't either.

[Middle English, from Old English ǣther, ǣghwæther; see k^wo- in Indo-European roots.]Usage Note: The traditional rule holds that either should be used only to refer to one of two items, and that any is required when more than two items are involved: Any (not either) of the three opposition candidates still in the race would make a better president than the incumbent. But reputable writers have often violated this rule, and in any case it applies only to the use of either as a pronoun or an adjective. When either is used as a conjunction, no paraphrase with any is available, and so either is unexceptionable even when it applies to more than two clauses: Either the union will make a counteroffer or the original bid will be refused by the board or the deal will go ahead as scheduled. · In either ... or constructions, the two conjunctions should be followed by parallel elements. The following is regarded as incorrect: You may either have the ring or the bracelet (properly, You may have either the ring or the bracelet). The following is also incorrect: She can take either the exam offered to all applicants or ask for a personal interview (properly, She can either take ... ). · When used as a pronoun, either is singular and takes a singular verb: The two left-wing parties disagree with each other more than either does (not do) with the Right. When followed by of and a plural noun, either is often used with a plural verb: Either of the parties have enough support to form a government. But this usage is widely regarded as incorrect. In our 2009 survey, 87 percent of the Usage Panel rejected it, a percentage that has barely budged since the question was first posed in 1967. · When all the elements in an either ... or construction (or a neither ... nor construction) used as the subject of a sentence are singular, the verb is singular: Either Eve or Herb has been invited. Analogously, when all the elements in the either ... or construction are plural, the verb is plural too: Either the Clarks or the Kays have been invited. When the construction mixes singular and plural elements, however, there is some confusion as to which form the verb should take. It has sometimes been suggested that the verb should agree with whichever noun phrase is closest to it; thus one would write Either the owner or the players are going to have to give in, but Either the players or the owner is going to have to give in. In our 2009 survey, 64 percent of the Usage Panel accepted this pattern. Others have maintained that the construction is fundamentally inconsistent whichever number is assigned to the verb, and that such sentences should be rewritten accordingly. See Usage Notes at every, neither, or¹, they.

either

(ˈaɪðə; ˈiːðə) determiner1. a. one or the other (of two): either coat will do. b. (as pronoun): either is acceptable. 2. both one and the other: there were ladies at either end of the table. 3. (coordinating) used preceding two or more possibilities joined by "or": you may have either cheese or a sweet. adv (sentence modifier) (used with a negative) used to indicate that the clause immediately preceding is a partial reiteration of a previous clause: John isn't a liar, but he isn't exactly honest either. [Old English ǣgther, short for ǣghwæther each of two; related to Old Frisian ēider, Old High German ēogihweder; see each, whether]Usage: Either is followed by a singular verb in good usage: either is good; either of these books is useful. Care should be taken to avoid ambiguity when using either to mean both or each, as in the following sentence: a ship could be moored on either side of the channel. Agreement between the verb and its subject in either…or… constructions follows the pattern given for neither…nor…

ei•ther

(ˈi ðər, ˈaɪ ðər)

adj. 1. one or the other of two: You may sit at either end of the table. 2. each of two; the one and the other: There are trees on either side of the river. pron. 3. one or the other: Either will do. conj. 4. (a coordinating conjunction that, when used with or, indicates a choice): Either call or write. adv. 5. as well; likewise (used after negative clauses): If you don't go, I won't either. [before 900; Middle English; Old English ǣgther, contraction of ǣghwæther each of two, both; see ay, whether] usage: When used as the subject, the pronoun either usually takes a singular verb even when followed by a prepositional phrase with a plural object: Either of the shrubs grows well in this soil. As an adjective either refers only to two of anything. As a pronoun either sometimes occurs in reference to more than two (either of the three children), but any is more common (any of the three children). As a conjunction, either often introduces a series of more than two: pizza topped with either onions, peppers, or mushrooms.―Usage guides say that the verb used with subjects joined by the correlative conjunctions either… or (or neither… nor) is singular or plural depending on the number of the noun or pronoun nearer the verb: Either the parents or the school determines the program. Either the school or the parents determine the program. Practice varies, however, and often the presence of one plural, no matter where, results in a plural verb. See also neither. pron: In American English, either and neither are usu. pronounced as (ˈi ðər) and (ˈni ðər) with the vowel of see. The pronunciations (ˈaɪ ðər) and (ˈnaɪ ðər) with the vowel of bite, occur chiefly among the educated and in the network standard English of radio and television. Both (ē) and (ī) pronunciations existed in 17th-century Britain, but it was not until the 19th century that (aɪ) came to predominate there. In American English, (aɪ) therefore reflects a recent borrowing rather than a survival from the time of early settlement.

either

1. used as a determiner

You use either in front of the singular form of a countable noun to say that something is true about each of two people or things.

Many children don't resemble either parent.In either case, Robert would never succeed.2. 'either of'

Instead of using either, you can use either of with a plural noun. For example, instead of saying 'Either answer is correct', you can say 'Either of the answers is correct'. There is no difference in meaning.

You could hear everything that was said in either of the rooms.They didn't want either of their children to know about this.

You use either of in front of plural pronouns.

I don't know either of them very well.He was better dressed than either of us.

Be Careful!
Don't use either without of in front of a plural noun or pronoun. Don't say, for example 'He was better dressed than either us.'

Some people use a plural form of a verb after either of and a noun phrase. For example, instead of saying 'I don't think either of you is wrong', they say 'I don't think either of you are wrong'.

I'm surprised either of you are here.

This use is acceptable in conversation and in less formal writing, but in formal writing you should always use a singular form of a verb after either of.

Either of these interpretations is possible.3. used in negative statements

You can use either or either of in a negative statement to emphasize that the statement applies to both of two things or people. For example, instead of saying about two people 'I don't like them', you can say 'I don't like either of them'.

She could not see either man.There was no sound from either of the rooms.'Which one do you want the red one or the blue one?' 'I don't want either.'4. used to mean 'each'

If there are things on either side of something or either end of something, they are on both sides or both ends.

There were trees on either side of the road.There are toilets at either end of the train.5. used as an adverb

When one negative statement follows another, you can put either at the end of the second one.

I can't play tennis and I can't play golf either.'I haven't got that address.' 'No, I haven't got it either.'See neither, nor, either ... or

Thesaurus

Adv.

either - 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"

Translations

两者之中任一的两者之中任何一个两者之中每一方的也任一

either

() ˈaiθə) , ((especially American) ˈi:ðə(r)) pronoun the one or the other of two. You may borrow either of these books; I offered him coffee or tea, but he didn't want either. （两者之中）任何一个 adjective1. the one or the other (of two things, people etc). He can write with either hand. （两者之中）任一的 2. the one and the other (of two things, people etc); both. at either side of the garden. （两者之中）每一方的 adverb1. used for emphasis. If you don't go, I won't either. 也（用于否定句或否定词后加强语气） 2. moreover; besides. I used to sing, and I hadn't a bad voice, either. 而且（用于疑问句或条件从句中选择部分后加强语气） either … or introducing alternatives. Either go to see him or send an apology. 或者...或者...，不是...就是... either way in the one case or the other. Either way he wins. 总之（不管怎样，反正，两边都）

either … or the verb usually matches the noun or pronoun that comes closest to it: Either John or Mary is to blame / Either John or his brothers are going to the show .

either

→ 任一zhCN, 或者zhCN

I don't like it either → 这件我也不喜欢

either

either

ei·ther

either

ei•ther

either

either

either

either

either way

me either

feast or famine

on either hand

*(either) feast or famine

feast or famine

feast or famine

feast or famine

on either/every ˈhand

ˈeither way

ˌone way or the ˈother

feast or famine