alway, adv.
(ˈɔːlweɪ, archaic ˌɔːlˈweɪ)
Forms: 1–2 alne weᵹ (WS. ealne weᵹ), 3–4 alne way, 4–5 alle wey, al wey, 5–6 allewaye, allwaye, alwaye, 5– alway.
[orig. two words all and way, in the accusative of space or distance, = all the way, the whole way, probably at first in reference to space traversed, but already in the oldest Eng. transferred to an extent of time, all along, all the time, continually. Afterwards confused with the genitive form, always, which has superseded it in prose, alway surviving only in poetry or as an archaism.]
1. All along, all the time, perpetually, throughout all time.
| c 885 K. ælfred Boeth. xxxviii. §5, & þæt ealne weᵹ siofodest þæt hi ealne weᵹ næron on wite, & ic þe sæde ealne weᵹ þæt hi næfre ne bioþ buton wite. 1340 Ayenb. 136 Þe wel couaytouse wrechche þet alneway heþ þet eȝe to þe guodes þet oþre habbeþ and doþ alneway and makeþ alneway semblont þet he ne heþ naȝt. c 1374 Chaucer Anel. & Arc. 236 For to love him Alweye [v.r. alwey, alway] never the lesse. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. v. xx. (1495) 126 Yf lyfe duryd a thousande yere alwaye shold growe teeth more and more. 1611 Bible Matt. xxviii. 20 And Loe, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. 1845 Neale Hymns for Sick 36 Whoso receiveth them, receiveth Thee, With them alway. a 1858 Muhlenberg Hymn, I would not live alway I ask not to stay. |
2. = always 1; every time, at all times, on all occasions. Opposed to sometimes, occasionally.
| c 1410 Sir Cleges 221 Wethyr wee have les or more, All⁓waye thanke we God therefore. 1473 J. Warkworth Chron. 4 Al⁓wey he promysed he wuld do. 1513 More Edw. V (1641) 7 Not alway for ill will, but oftner for ambition. 1535 Coverdale 2 Sam. xv. 2 Absalom gat him vp allwaye early in the mornynge, and stode in the waye by the porte. 1611 Bible John vii. 6 My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. 1851 Trench Poems 46 And boldly use the children's prayer alway. 1868 Miss J. E. Brown Lights thro' Lattice 56 For he [the foe] doth mark each open door alway. |
† 3. In any case, after all, still. = always 3. Obs.
| a 1400 in Hallam Mid. Ages (1872) III. 91 Savyng alwey to our liege lord his real prerogatif. 1413 Lydg. Pylgr. Sowle iv. xx. (1483) 67 He a disciple is, thou arte a lord Thou al awey art greter than he is. 1475 Bk. Noblesse 34 Notwithestanding so oft tymes trewes and alliaunces taken and made..alle waye whan the Frenshe partie coude have and fynde any avauntage or coloure..they did make new werre. |