either

 
Pronunciation: /ˈʌɪðə, ˈiː-/

conjunction & adverb

  • 1used before the first of two (or occasionally more) given alternatives (the other being introduced by ‘or’): either I accompany you to your room or I wait here available in either black or white
  • 2 [adverb, with negative] used to indicate a similarity or link with a statement just made: You don’t like him, do you? I don’t either it won’t do any harm, but won’t really help either
  • for that matter; moreover: I was too tired to go. And I couldn’t have paid, either

determiner & pronoun

  • one or the other of two people or things: [as determiner]: there were no children of either marriage [as pronoun]: their mortgage will be repaid if either of them dies
  • [determiner] each of two: the road was straight, with fields on either side

Phrases

either way

whichever of two given alternatives is the case: I’m not sure whether he is trying to be clever or controversial, but either way, such writing smacks of racism

Origin:

Old English ǣgther, contracted form of ǣg(e)hwæther, of Germanic origin; ultimately related to aye1 and whether

In good English writing style, it is important that either and or are correctly placed so that the structures following each word balance and mirror each other. Thus, sentences such as either I accompany you or I wait here and I’m going to buy either a new camera or a new video are correct, whereas sentences such as either I accompany you or John and I’m either going to buy a new camera or a video are not well-balanced sentences and should not be used in written English.