always, adv.
(ˈɔːlweɪz, -wɪz)
Forms: 3 alles weis, 4 alleweyes, 5–7 alwayes, 6 alwaise, allweyz, 6–7 alwaies, allwaies, 6– always.
[genitive case of all way, prob. conveying the distributive sense ‘at every time.’ Cf. once = at one time, the Ger. eines Morgens, and Eng. ‘of a morning, of a Sunday’; and compare sometimes, of separate occasions, with some time, of duration. But eventually this distinction between alway and always was lost, and the latter is now used in both senses.]
1. At every time, on every occasion, at all times, on all occasions. Opposed to sometimes, occasionally.
| c 1230 Ancr. R. 4 Ye schullen alles weis, mid alle mihte..wel witen þe inre, & þe uttre vor hire sake. 1375 Barbour Bruce ii. 92 James off dowglas, that ay-quhar All-wayis befor the byschop schar. c 1400 Rom. Rose 919 A bachelere, That he made alleweyes with hym be. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. vii. vi. 10 In justice lawchful he wes allwayis. 1584 D. Powel Lloyd's Cambr. 91 And alwaise returned with great spoils. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, iv. iii. 45 Edward will alwayes beare himselfe as King. 1600 Thynne Epigr. in Animadv. Pref. 57 Thy wife allwaies is but a needfull ill, And beste is bad. 1611 Bible Rom. i. 9, I make mention of you, alwayes in my prayers. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 7 ¶4 She is always seeing Apparitions. 1732 Pope Ess. Man i. 92 Man never is, but always to be blest. 1751 Johnson Rambl. No. 165 ¶6 He that indulges hope will always be disappointed. 1860 Tyndall Glac. ii. §24. 355 Water always holds a quantity of air in solution. |
2. = alway; all along; through all time, without any interruption; ever, continually, perpetually. Opposed to for a time.
| 1375 Barbour Bruce vii. 60 He ran on fut alwayis hym by, Till he in-till the wod wes gane. 1513 More Edw. V Ded., Laudable custome that hath alwaies been observed. 1667 Milton P.L. iii. 704 Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all Had in remembrance always with delight. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 2 ¶5 Having always had a very easy fortune, Time has made but little Impression. 1862 Trench Mirac. 50 They were done once, that they might be believed always. |
3. In any or every circumstance; whatever the circumstances; whatever happens, whatever one may do or say; in any event, anyhow. (Cf. algate, and Fr. toujours.) Formerly chiefly northern.
| 1490 Caxton Eneydos xxi. 76 How be it that he had grete pyte and compassyon of her..alwayes he determyned hymself and went his way. 1533 Bellendene Livy i. 81 Alwayis he had ane brothir, eldare of yeris than he. [c 1460, 1488] 1600 [see provided ppl. a. 5, 5 b]. 1649 H. Guthry Mem. (1702) 57 Always, having done that Business he came for, his Grace return'd next day to Court. 1663 Blair Autobiogr. v. (1848) 74 Always we thanked God for what was done. 1778 F. Burney Evelina xxxvii, You will always make my respects to the hospitable family to which we are so much obliged. 1846 Dickens Dombey viii. 78 Never so distressed as by the company of children—Florence alone excepted, always. 1872 Geo. Eliot Middlem. iii. xxiii. 5 Fred had always (at that time) his father's pocket as a last resource. a 1884 Mod. It is told in the north of a modern representative of the ancient σχολαστικός, that being dismissed from his employment in the depth of winter, he said, ‘I don't care, I can always shear’ (= reap). 1888 Mrs. H. Ward R. Elsmere xxx, Always supposing there were no risk in the matter. 1910 Punch 9 Feb. 104/3 It don't look as if I'm goin' to 'ave a job this arternoon. 'Owever, no matter. There's always the work'us. |
4. Comb. Qualifying an adj. or ppl. adj. used attributively.
| 1855 Whitman Leaves of Grass 27 Sea of unshovelled and always-ready graves! 1902 Academy 16 Aug. 183/1 The spirit who is not weighed down with the cares of an always-ageing body. 1952 C. Day Lewis tr. Virgil's Aen. vi. p. 134 Giving no rest to the always-replenished vitals. 1955 P. Larkin Less Deceived 39 Bargains, suffering, and love, Not this always-planned salute. |