The word even serves in Elizabethan English as one of the most versatile emphatic adverbs, functioning to heighten intensity, express precise equality, indicate inclusion of extremes, and mark temporal exactness. Where modern speakers might say “exactly,” “just,” or “also,” Shakespeare and his contemporaries reached for even with greater frequency and broader semantic range.
In Early Modern English, even retained its Anglo-Saxon resonance from efen (level, equal), carrying connotations of balance, justice, and perfect alignment. When a character declares something “even so,” they affirm not merely agreement but cosmic rightness—the scales balanced, the account settled, the world momentarily in order.
This lesson presents even across its Elizabethan functions: as intensifier (”even now” = at this very moment), as marker of surprising inclusion (”even the stones would cry out”), as expression of precise equality (”even as the sun riseth”), and as emphatic affirmation (”even so, my lord”). The interlinear format preserves Early Modern word order while the IPA transcriptions reflect Original Pronunciation as reconstructed by historical phonologists, including the rhotic articulation of post-vocalic /r/, the fuller vowel sounds before the Great Vowel Shift completed, and the [sɪən] pronunciation of suffixes spelled -tion.
Course Index:
https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
FAQ: What does “even” mean in Elizabethan English?
In Elizabethan English, “even” functions as an emphatic adverb meaning “exactly,” “precisely,” “just,” “indeed,” or expressing inclusion of surprising extremes. It appears in constructions like “even now” (at this very moment), “even so” (just so, indeed), and “even as” (exactly when, in the same manner as). The word carries stronger emphatic force than in modern usage.
Key Takeaways -
Even functions as an intensifier adding emphasis to the word or phrase it modifies -
The construction “even so” serves as a powerful affirmation meaning “indeed” or “just so” -
“Even as” introduces simultaneous action or precise comparison -
“Even now” indicates immediate present time with emphatic force -
The word often marks surprising inclusion: “even kings must die”
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Original Pronunciation (OP) Features in This Lesson:
The IPA transcriptions reflect Early Modern English phonology circa 1600, following the reconstructions of David Crystal and Helge Kökeritz. Key features include:
Rhoticity: All instances of /r/ after vowels are pronounced, similar to modern Scottish or Irish English. Thus “ever” sounds [ˈɛvər] with a clear final r-sound.
The -tion Suffix: Pronounced [sɪən] (two syllables, “see-on”) rather than modern [ʃən]. Thus “fashion” = [ˈfasɪən], “nation” = [ˈneɪsɪən], “devotion” = [dɪˈvoːsɪən].
Vowel Sounds: Many vowels retained more open or centered qualities. The FACE vowel was closer to [ɛː], the GOAT vowel to [oː], and diphthongs often had centered onsets [əɪ] for PRICE words.
The Word “even”: Pronounced [ˈeːvən] with a pure long vowel rather than modern [ˈiːvən].
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1.1a Even the stones would speak if men kept silence.
1.1b Even [ˈeːvən] indeed the [ðə] the stones [stoːnz] stones would [wʊd] would speak [speːk] speak if [ɪf] if men [mɛn] men kept [kɛpt] kept silence [ˈsəɪləns] silence
1.2a I have watched even from the break of day.
1.2b I [əɪ] I have [hav] have watched [watʃt] watched even [ˈeːvən] right from [frɔm] from the [ðə] the break [brɛːk] break of [ɔf] of day [dɛː] day
1.3a Even so, my lord, I shall obey.
1.3b Even [ˈeːvən] just so [soː] so my [məɪ] my lord [lɔrd] lord I [əɪ] I shall [ʃal] shall obey [oːˈbɛː] obey
1.4a The king even now prepares for war.
1.4b The [ðə] the king [kɪŋ] king even [ˈeːvən] at-this-very-moment now [nəʊ] now prepares [prɪˈpɛːrz] prepares for [fɔr] for war [wɔːr] war
1.5a He loved her even unto death.
1.5b He [heː] he loved [lʊvd] loved her [hər] her even [ˈeːvən] even unto [ˈʊntuː] unto death [dɛːθ] death
1.6a Even as the sun doth rise, so riseth hope.
1.6b Even [ˈeːvən] just as [az] as the [ðə] the sun [sʊn] sun doth [dʊθ] doth rise [rəɪz] rise so [soː] so riseth [ˈrəɪzəθ] riseth hope [hoːp] hope
1.7a I find it strange, even passing strange.
1.7b I [əɪ] I find [fəɪnd] find it [ɪt] it strange [strɛːndʒ] strange even [ˈeːvən] indeed passing [ˈpasɪŋ] surpassing strange [strɛːndʒ] strange
1.8a Not even the physician could restore him.
1.8b Not [nɔt] not even [ˈeːvən] even the [ðə] the physician [fɪˈzɪsɪən] physician could [kʊd] could restore [rɪˈstɔːr] restore him [hɪm] him
1.9a Even virtue turns to vice being misapplied.
1.9b Even [ˈeːvən] even virtue [ˈvərtʃuː] virtue turns [tərnz] turns to [tuː] to vice [vəɪs] vice being [ˈbeːɪŋ] being misapplied [mɪsəˈpləɪd] misapplied
1.10a The fashion of this world changeth even daily.
1.10b The [ðə] the fashion [ˈfasɪən] fashion of [ɔf] of this [ðɪs] this world [wərld] world changeth [ˈtʃɛːndʒəθ] changeth even [ˈeːvən] indeed daily [ˈdɛːlɪ] daily
1.11a We are all mortal, even kings and emperors.
1.11b We [weː] we are [ar] are all [ɔːl] all mortal [ˈmɔrtəl] mortal even [ˈeːvən] even kings [kɪŋz] kings and [and] and emperors [ˈɛmpərərz] emperors
1.12a Even in mine own devotion I am false.
1.12b Even [ˈeːvən] even in [ɪn] in mine [məɪn] mine own [oːn] own devotion [dɪˈvoːsɪən] devotion I [əɪ] I am [am] am false [fɔːls] false
1.13a They whisper even at the coronation of the prince.
1.13b They [ðɛː] they whisper [ˈʍɪspər] whisper even [ˈeːvən] even at [at] at the [ðə] the coronation [kɔrəˈneːsɪən] coronation of [ɔf] of the [ðə] the prince [prɪns] prince
1.14a The heavens themselves proclaim it, even thunderously.
1.14b The [ðə] the heavens [ˈhɛvənz] heavens themselves [ðəmˈsɛlvz] themselves proclaim [proːˈklɛːm] proclaim it [ɪt] it even [ˈeːvən] indeed thunderously [ˈθʊndərəslɪ] thunderously
1.15a She was fair, even exceeding fair beyond all question.
1.15b She [ʃeː] she was [waz] was fair [fɛːr] fair even [ˈeːvən] indeed exceeding [ɪkˈseːdɪŋ] exceeding fair [fɛːr] fair beyond [bɪˈjɔnd] beyond all [ɔːl] all question [ˈkwɛstɪən] question
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1.1 Even the stones would speak if men kept silence.
1.2 I have watched even from the break of day.
1.3 Even so, my lord, I shall obey.
1.4 The king even now prepares for war.
1.5 He loved her even unto death.
1.6 Even as the sun doth rise, so riseth hope.
1.7 I find it strange, even passing strange.
1.8 Not even the physician could restore him.
1.9 Even virtue turns to vice being misapplied.
1.10 The fashion of this world changeth even daily.
1.11 We are all mortal, even kings and emperors.
1.12 Even in mine own devotion I am false.
1.13 They whisper even at the coronation of the prince.
1.14 The heavens themselves proclaim it, even thunderously.
1.15 She was fair, even exceeding fair beyond all question.
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Even the stones would speak if men kept silence. I have watched even from the break of day. Even so, my lord, I shall obey. The king even now prepares for war. He loved her even unto death. Even as the sun doth rise, so riseth hope. I find it strange, even passing strange. Not even the physician could restore him. Even virtue turns to vice being misapplied. The fashion of this world changeth even daily. We are all mortal, even kings and emperors. Even in mine own devotion I am false. They whisper even at the coronation of the prince. The heavens themselves proclaim it, even thunderously. She was fair, even exceeding fair beyond all question.
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“Even” as Emphatic Adverb
In Elizabethan English, even operates across several semantic domains, all connected by the core notion of exactness, precision, or reaching to an extreme:
1. Intensifying Emphasis (”indeed, truly”)
When even modifies an adjective or another adverb, it adds emphatic force meaning “indeed” or “truly”: -
“even passing strange” = truly surpassing strange -
“even exceeding fair” = indeed exceedingly beautiful -
“even thunderously” = indeed with thunder
This construction amplifies the quality being described.
2. Inclusive Emphasis (”also, including extremes”)
Even marks the surprising or extreme inclusion of something unexpected: -
“even the stones” = the stones also, even as far as the stones -
“even kings and emperors” = including the highest ranks -
“not even the physician” = not the physician either
This function emphasizes that the predicate applies universally, reaching extremes one might not expect.
3. Temporal Precision (”at this very moment”)
In combination with temporal adverbs, even adds exactness: -
“even now” = at this very moment -
“even from the break of day” = starting precisely at dawn -
“changeth even daily” = changes every single day
4. The Affirmative “Even so”
The phrase even so serves as a powerful affirmation meaning “just so,” “indeed,” or “exactly thus”: -
“Even so, my lord” = Just so, my lord / Indeed, my lord
This construction acknowledges agreement while adding gravitas.
5. Comparative Correlation (”even as... so...”)
The correlative construction even as... so... establishes precise parallel between two actions: -
“Even as the sun doth rise, so riseth hope” = Just as the sun rises, so too rises hope
This structure creates elegant symmetry in Elizabethan prose and verse.
Pronunciation Note: The -tion Suffix
Words ending in -tion were pronounced with two syllables [sɪən] in Elizabethan English, not the modern single syllable [ʃən]: -
devotion [dɪˈvoːsɪən] (de-VO-see-on) -
coronation [kɔrəˈneːsɪən] (co-ro-NAY-see-on) -
fashion [ˈfasɪən] (FA-see-on) -
question [ˈkwɛstɪən] (QUEST-ee-on)
This fuller articulation affects scansion in verse and should inform modern readings of Elizabethan texts.
Grammatical Forms Present in Examples -
Doth [dʊθ]: Third person singular auxiliary, emphatic form of “does” -
Riseth [ˈrəɪzəθ]: Third person singular present tense with -(e)th suffix -
Changeth [ˈtʃɛːndʒəθ]: Third person singular present tense -
Mine own: Possessive pronoun before vowel (my own in modern) -
Unto: Preposition meaning “to” with emphatic or formal register
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The Weight of “Even” in Elizabethan Thought
The emphatic power of even in Elizabethan English connects to the period’s broader fascination with balance, proportion, and cosmic order. The word’s etymology from Old English efen (level, equal) carried forward associations with justice, equality, and the proper ordering of the world.
When Shakespeare writes “Even virtue turns to vice being misapplied,” he invokes this sense of balance—the same moral quality that creates good can create evil when the scales tip wrongly. The word even here does more than intensify; it emphasizes the precarious equilibrium of the moral world.
“Even So” as Courtly Affirmation
The phrase “even so” appears frequently in Elizabethan drama as a response of dignified agreement. Unlike a simple “yes” or “aye,” “even so” carries weight—it acknowledges truth with philosophical gravity. When a courtier replies “Even so, my lord,” they affirm not just the fact but its rightness, its inevitability.
Original Pronunciation and the Elizabethan Stage
The reconstruction of Original Pronunciation (OP) has transformed our understanding of Shakespearean performance. David Crystal’s pioneering work at Shakespeare’s Globe demonstrated that OP productions run faster, feel more conversational, and restore puns lost to modern pronunciation.
The fuller [sɪən] pronunciation of -tion endings affects verse rhythm significantly. A line like “The coronation of the prince” scans differently when “coronation” fills four syllables rather than three. Actors working in OP report that the accent naturally drops their vocal register and centers their physical presence—the language seems to demand a different embodiment.
Linguistic Note: Rhoticity
Early Modern English was fully rhotic—speakers pronounced the /r/ in all positions, including after vowels. This feature persists today in Scottish, Irish, and most American accents, but was lost in England during the 18th century, giving rise to Received Pronunciation (RP).
When reading Elizabethan texts, imagining the rhotic pronunciation restores the fuller, more muscular quality of the language. Words like “lord” [lɔrd], “virtue” [ˈvərtʃuː], and “thunderously” [ˈθʊndərəslɪ] carry their r-sounds distinctly.
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From William Shakespeare
“The quality of mercy is not strained; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. ‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes The thronèd monarch better than his crown... And earthly power doth then show likest God’s When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, Though justice be thy plea, consider this: That in the course of justice none of us Should see salvation. We do pray for mercy, And that same prayer doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy.”
The Merchant of Venice (IV.i), c. 1596-1598
While even does not appear in this passage, Shakespeare elsewhere employs it with characteristic force:
“O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I’ll no longer be a Capulet... What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet; So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d, Retain that dear perfection which he owes Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, And for that name, which is no part of thee, Take all myself.”
Romeo and Juliet (II.ii), c. 1594-1596
And with direct use of even:
“All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts...”
“Even so. And yet methinks my father’s manner Hath a more portly and a majestical carriage.”
As You Like It (II.vii / paraphrase from multiple plays)
From the King James Bible (1611)
“Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.” — Matthew 11:26
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” — Matthew 5:11-12
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” — John 14:12
The King James translators, working contemporaneously with Shakespeare, employed even with similar emphatic force throughout their translation.
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The following interconnected passage demonstrates “even” in the context of Elizabethan dramatic verse—a character contemplating the nature of ambition and mortality.
2.1a Even now I stand upon the precipice of greatness.
2.1b Even [ˈeːvən] at-this-very-moment now [nəʊ] now I [əɪ] I stand [stand] stand upon [əˈpɔn] upon the [ðə] the precipice [ˈprɛsɪpɪs] precipice of [ɔf] of greatness [ˈgrɛːtnəs] greatness
2.2a Even as I reach for glory, doubt assails me.
2.2b Even [ˈeːvən] just as [az] as I [əɪ] I reach [reːtʃ] reach for [fɔr] for glory [ˈglɔːrɪ] glory doubt [dəʊt] doubt assails [əˈsɛːlz] assails me [meː] me
2.3a The crown beckons, yet even victory tastes of ashes.
2.3b The [ðə] the crown [krəʊn] crown beckons [ˈbɛkənz] beckons yet [jɛt] yet even [ˈeːvən] even victory [ˈvɪktərɪ] victory tastes [tɛːsts] tastes of [ɔf] of ashes [ˈaʃɪz] ashes
2.4a What profiteth ambition if even success breeds sorrow?
2.4b What [ʍat] what profiteth [ˈprɔfɪtəθ] profiteth ambition [amˈbɪsɪən] ambition if [ɪf] if even [ˈeːvən] even success [sʊkˈsɛs] success breeds [breːdz] breeds sorrow [ˈsɔroː] sorrow
2.5a Even my dearest confederates may prove false.
2.5b Even [ˈeːvən] even my [məɪ] my dearest [ˈdɪːrəst] dearest confederates [kənˈfɛdərəts] confederates may [mɛː] may prove [pruːv] prove false [fɔːls] false
2.6a I have laboured even unto exhaustion for this hour.
2.6b I [əɪ] I have [hav] have laboured [ˈleːbərd] laboured even [ˈeːvən] even unto [ˈʊntuː] unto exhaustion [ɪgˈzɔːstɪən] exhaustion for [fɔr] for this [ðɪs] this hour [əʊr] hour
2.7a Even so, the die is cast and cannot be recalled.
2.7b Even [ˈeːvən] just so [soː] so the [ðə] the die [dəɪ] die is [ɪz] is cast [kast] cast and [and] and cannot [ˈkanɔt] cannot be [beː] be recalled [rɪˈkɔːld] recalled
2.8a Heaven watches even the secret motions of my heart.
2.8b Heaven [ˈhɛvən] heaven watches [ˈwatʃɪz] watches even [ˈeːvən] even the [ðə] the secret [ˈseːkrət] secret motions [ˈmoːsɪənz] motions of [ɔf] of my [məɪ] my heart [hart] heart
2.9a Should I falter even at the threshold of triumph?
2.9b Should [ʃʊd] should I [əɪ] I falter [ˈfɔːltər] falter even [ˈeːvən] even at [at] at the [ðə] the threshold [ˈθrɛʃoːld] threshold of [ɔf] of triumph [ˈtrəɪəmf] triumph
2.10a Nay, I shall proceed, even against mine own nature.
2.10b Nay [nɛː] nay I [əɪ] I shall [ʃal] shall proceed [proːˈsiːd] proceed even [ˈeːvən] even against [əˈgɛːnst] against mine [məɪn] mine own [oːn] own nature [ˈneːtʃər] nature
2.11a Even kings must reckon with mortality’s cold hand.
2.11b Even [ˈeːvən] even kings [kɪŋz] kings must [mʊst] must reckon [ˈrɛkən] reckon with [wɪθ] with mortality’s [mɔrˈtalɪtɪz] mortality’s cold [koːld] cold hand [hand] hand
2.12a I know it well, even as I strive to forget.
2.12b I [əɪ] I know [noː] know it [ɪt] it well [wɛl] well even [ˈeːvən] even as [az] as I [əɪ] I strive [strəɪv] strive to [tuː] to forget [fɔrˈgɛt] forget
2.13a The nation watches; even whispers carry to mine ears.
2.13b The [ðə] the nation [ˈneːsɪən] nation watches [ˈwatʃɪz] watches even [ˈeːvən] even whispers [ˈʍɪspərz] whispers carry [ˈkarɪ] carry to [tuː] to mine [məɪn] mine ears [ɪːrz] ears
2.14a Even in victory I shall find no rest, methinks.
2.14b Even [ˈeːvən] even in [ɪn] in victory [ˈvɪktərɪ] victory I [əɪ] I shall [ʃal] shall find [fəɪnd] find no [noː] no rest [rɛst] rest methinks [mɪˈθɪŋks] methinks
2.15a Yet forward I must go, even unto whatever end awaits.
2.15b Yet [jɛt] yet forward [ˈfɔrwərd] forward I [əɪ] I must [mʊst] must go [goː] go even [ˈeːvən] even unto [ˈʊntuː] unto whatever [ʍatˈɛvər] whatever end [ɛnd] end awaits [əˈwɛːts] awaits
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This Elizabethan English course follows the Latinum Institute methodology, presenting Early Modern English through interlinear construed text that makes the language accessible to autodidact learners. The 1000-word frequency curriculum ensures systematic vocabulary acquisition while the genre sections immerse students in authentic period discourse.
Course Features: -
CSV-based vocabulary progression through 1000 high-frequency words -
Period-accurate IPA reflecting Original Pronunciation research -
Interlinear format preserving Early Modern syntax and word order -
Literary citations from Shakespeare and the King James Bible -
Cultural context connecting language to Elizabethan worldview
Course Index:
https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
Reviews: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
The Original Pronunciation transcriptions in this lesson draw on the foundational work of Helge Kökeritz (Shakespeare’s Pronunciation, 1953) and David Crystal, whose productions at Shakespeare’s Globe have brought OP to contemporary audiences. Students interested in hearing OP performed should seek out recordings from the Globe Theatre and the British Library.
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