eve

¹

[eev]

noun

1. (sometimes initial capital letter),  the evening or the day before a holiday, church festival, or any date or event.

   Christmas Eve; the eve of an execution.

2. the period preceding or leading up to any event, crisis, etc..

   on the eve of the American Revolution.

3. the evening.

Eve

²

[eev]

noun

1. (in the Bible) the name of the first woman: wife of Adam and progenitor of the human race.

2. a female given name: from a Hebrew word meaning “life.”

eve

¹

/ iːv /

noun

1. 1. the evening or day before some special event or festival

   2. ( capital when part of a name )

      New Year's Eve

2. the period immediately before an event

   on the eve of civil war

3. an archaic word for evening

Eve

²

/ iːv /

noun

1. Old Testament the first woman; mother of the human race, fashioned by God from the rib of Adam (Genesis 2:18-25)

Eve

1. In the Book of Genesis, the first woman. (See Adam and Eve and Creation.)

Word History and Origins

Origin of eve¹

1200–50; Middle English; variant of even ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of eve¹

C13: variant of _even ²

Idioms and Phrases

see on the eve of.

Example Sentences

As well as personally reviewing his opponent, as always, Howe familiarised his side with their new surroundings by training at Lotto Park on the eve of the game.

From BBC

“That kind of sour taste that you have when you make an early exit from the postseason, our guys are tired of it,” manager Dave Roberts said on the eve of last year’s postseason.

From Los Angeles Times

But on the eve of her 16th birthday, her life changed forever.

From BBC

They will also release a 20th anniversary reissue of their 2005 album, Love Kraft, as well as a cut of previously unreleased music on the eve of tickets going on sale on 3 October.

From BBC

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton Labour was in "complete chaos" on the eve of their party conference.

From BBC

Related Words

• brink 
• night 
• verge