Ei″ther (ē″t͡hẽr or ī″t͡hẽr; 277), a. & pron. [OE. either, aither, AS. ǣgðer, ǣghwæðer (akin to OHG. ēogiwedar, MHG. iegeweder); ā + ge + hwæðer whether. See Each, and Whether, and cf. Or, conj.] 1. One of two; the one or the other; — properly used of two things, but sometimes of a larger number, for any one.
Lepidus flatters both,
Of both is flattered; but he neither loves,
Nor either cares for him. Shak.
Scarce a palm of ground could be gotten by either of the three. Bacon.
There have been three talkers in Great British, either of whom would illustrate what I say about dogmatists. Holmes.
2. Each of two; the one and the other; both; — formerly, also, each of any number.
His flowing hair
In curls on either cheek played. Milton.
On either side... was there the tree of life. Rev. xxii. 2.
The extreme right and left of either army never engaged. Jowett (Thucyd).