GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Either (ēˈthẽr or īˈthẽr; 277), a. & pron. [OE. either, aither, AS. ǣgðer, ǣghwæðer (akin to OHG. ēogiwedar, MHG. iegeweder); ā + ge + hwæðer 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.
   
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   Lepidus flatters both,
   
   Of both is flattered; but he neither loves,
   
   Nor either cares for him. Shak.
   
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   Scarce a palm of ground could be gotten by either of the three. Bacon.
   
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   There have been three talkers in Great British, either of whom would illustrate what I say about dogmatists. Holmes.
   
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   2. Each of two; the one and the other; both; -- formerly, also, each of any number.
   
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   His flowing hair
   
   In curls on either cheek played. Milton.
   
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   On either side . . . was there the tree of life. Rev. xxii. 2.
   
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   The extreme right and left of either army never engaged. Jowett (Thucyd).
   
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2.       
   Either, conj. Either precedes two, or more, coördinate words or phrases, and is introductory to an alternative. It is correlative to or.
   
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   Either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth. 1 Kings xviii. 27.
   
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   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.
   
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   ☞ Either was formerly sometimes used without any correlation, and where we should now use or.
   
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   Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? James iii. 12.
   
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