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Eternal strictly signifies without beginning or end, in which sense it applies to God alone; everlasting applies
to that which may or may not have beginning, but will never cease; eternal is also used in this more limited
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133
sense; endless, without end, in its utmost reach, is not distinguishable from everlasting; but endless is
constantly used in inferior senses, especially in mechanics, as in the phrases an endless screw, an endless
chain. Everlasting and endless are both used in a limited sense of protracted, indefinite, but not infinite
duration; as, the everlasting hills; endless debates; so we speak of interminable quarrels. Eternal holds quite
strictly to the vast and sacred meaning in which it is applied to the Divine Being and the future state.
Everlasting, endless, and eternal may be applied to that which has no life; as, everlasting chains, endless
night, eternal death; immortal applies to that which now has life, and is forever exempt from death. Timeless
carries, perhaps, the fullest idea of eternal, as above and beyond time, and not to be measured by it.
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EVENT.
Synonyms:
case, contingency, fortune, outcome, chance, end, incident, possibility, circumstance, episode, issue, result,
consequence, fact, occurrence, sequel.
Etymologically, the incident is that which falls in, the event that which comes out; event is thus greater and
more signal than incident; we speak of trifling incidents, great events; incidents of daily life, events of history.
Circumstance agrees with incident in denoting a matter of relatively slight importance, but implies a more
direct connection with the principal matter; "circumstantial evidence" is evidence from seemingly minor
matters directly connected with a case; "incidental evidence" would be some evidence that happened
unexpectedly to touch it. An occurrence is, etymologically, that which we run against, without thought of its
origin, connection or tendency. An episode is connected with the main course of events, like an incident or
circumstance, but is of more independent interest and importance. Outcome is the Saxon, and event the Latin
for expressing the same original idea. Consequence or result would express more of logical connection, and
be more comprehensive. The end may be simple cessation; the event is what has been accomplished; the event
of a war is victory or defeat; the end of the war is reached when a treaty of peace is signed. Since the future is
contingent, event comes to have the meaning of a contingency; as, in the event of his death, the policy will at
once fall due. Compare CIRCUMSTANCE; CONSEQUENCE; END.
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EVERY.
Synonyms:
all, any, both, each, either.
All and both are collective; any, each, and every are distributive. Any makes no selection and may not reach to
the full limits of all; each and every make no exception or omission, and must extend to all; all sweeps in the
units as part of a total, each and every proceed through the units to the total. A promise made to all omits
none; a promise made to any may not reach all; a promise made to every one is so made that no individual
shall fail to be aware of it; a promise made to each is made to the individuals personally, one by one. Each is
thus more individual and specific than every; every classifies, each individualizes. Each divides, both unites;
if a certain sum is given to each of two persons, both (together) must receive twice the amount; both must be
aware of what has been separately communicated to each; a man may fire both barrels of a gun by a single
movement; if he fires each barrel, he discharges them separately. Either properly denotes one of two,
indefinitely, to the exclusion of the other. The use of either in the sense of each or both, tho sustained by good
authority, is objectionable because ambiguous. His friends sat on either side of the room would naturally
mean on one side or the other; if the meaning is on both sides, it would be better to say so.
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EVIDENT.
Synonyms:
apparent, glaring, overt, tangible, clear, indubitable, palpable, transparent, conspicuous, manifest, patent,
unmistakable, discernible, obvious, perceptible, visible. distinct, open, plain,
That is apparent which clearly appears to the senses or to the mind as soon as the attention is directed toward
it; that is evident of which the mind is made sure by some inference that supplements the facts of perception;
the marks of a struggle were apparent in broken shrubbery and trampled ground, and the finding of a
mutilated body and a rifled purse made it evident that robbery and murder had been committed. That is
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