Ēve or Ē'ven, n.

(ē'vn, 58), n. [A-S. efen, īfen, O. Sax. āband, ārand, āvond, O. Fries. avond, aiond, iond, iond, O. D. avont, N. D. avond, O. H. Ger. âbant, âbunt, âpand, M. H. Ger. âbent, âbunt, N. H. Ger. abend, Icel. aftan, Sw. afton, Dan. aften, allied to even, level, and Goth. af, O. H. Ger. apa, N. H. Ger. ab, of, off, from, down, so that it originally signifies, decline of the day.] 1. The latter part or close of the day; the beginning of the night; the period of time near sunset; evening. They, like so many Alexanders, Have in these parts from morn till even fought. Shak. Winter, oft, at eve resumes the breeze. Thomson. 2. The evening preceding some particular day, as, Christmas eve is the evening before Christmas; also, the period just preceding some important event; as, the eve of an engagement.