Either vs Dither - What's the difference?
either | dither |
Each of two.
* (John Milton) (1608-1674)
* 1936 , (Djuna Barnes), (Nightwood) , Faber & Faber 2007, page 31:
One or the other of two.
* {{quote-news, passage=You can't be a table and a chair. You're either a Jew or a gentile.
, quotee=(Jackie Mason), year=2006, date=December 5, work=USA Today
, title= (coordinating)
* {{quote-book, year=1893, author=(Walter Besant), title=
, passage=Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language
(obsolete) Both, each of two or more.
* , Bk.VII:
* (Francis Bacon) (1561-1626)
* , III.i:
* (1809-1894)
One or other of two people or things.
* 2013 , Daniel Taylor,
As well.
* {{quote-book, year=1959, author=(Georgette Heyer), title=(The Unknown Ajax), chapter=1
, passage=But Richmond
Introduces the first of two options, the second of which is introduced by "or".
The state of being undecided.
* 2002 , Thomas P. Glynn, A Child's Christmas In Chicago , page 59:
*:Everyone was in a dither'''; either in it or about to get in it or just climbing out of it. Naturally, the Madam was not in a '''dither'''. '''Dither was a foreign concept to her.
A form of noise which is intentionally applied to randomize errors which occur in the processing of both digital audio and digital video data
(obsolete) To tremble, shake, or shiver with cold.
*1913 ,
*:Presently he came running out of the scullery, with the soapy water dripping from him, dithering with cold.
To be uncertain or unable to make a decision about doing something.
*2012 , The Economist, Sept. 22nd issue, ''
*:The dithering Mr Singh of recent times may worry that his reform proposals are already too bold. The reforming Mr Singh of yore would see them as just the start.
To do something nervously.
(computer graphics) To render an approximation of (an image, etc.) by using dot patterns in similar colours to those that are unavailable on the system.
In obsolete terms the difference between either and dither
is that either is both, each of two or more while dither is to tremble, shake, or shiver with cold.As a determiner either
is each of two.As a pronoun either
is both, each of two or more.As an adverb either
is as well.As a conjunction either
is introduces the first of two options, the second of which is introduced by "or".As a noun dither is
the state of being undecided.As a verb dither is
to tremble, shake, or shiver with cold.either
English
Usage notes
In the UK the first pronunciation is generally used more in southern England, while the latter is more usual in northern England. However, this is an oversimplification, and the pronunciation used varies by individual speaker and sometimes by situation. The second pronunciation is the most common in the United States.Determiner
(en determiner)- His flowing hair / In curls on either cheek played.
- Her hands, long and beautiful, lay on either side of her face.
Mason drops lawsuit vs. Jews for Jesus}}
The Ivory Gate, chapter=Prologue
Synonyms
* (one or the other) * (each of two) both, eachPronoun
(English Pronouns)- Than ayther departed to theire tentis and made hem redy to horsebacke as they thought beste.
- Scarce a palm of ground could be gotten by either of the three.
- And either vowd with all their power and wit, / To let not others honour be defaste.
- There have been three talkers in Great British, either of whom would illustrate what I say about dogmatists.
Danny Welbeck leads England's rout of Moldova but hit by Ukraine ban, The Guardian, 6 September:
- Hodgson may now have to bring in James Milner on the left and, on that basis, a certain amount of gloss was taken off a night on which Welbeck scored twice but barely celebrated either before leaving the pitch angrily complaining to the Slovakian referee.
Adverb
(-)Usage notes
either is sometimes used, especially in North American English, where neither would be more traditionally accurate: "I'm not hungry." "Me either."Synonyms
* neither * tooConjunction
(English Conjunctions)- Either you eat your dinner or you go to your room.
Usage notes
* When there are more than two alternatives, "any" is used instead.See also
* neither * nor * orStatistics
*dither
English
Noun
(-)Verb
(en verb)Indian Reform: At Last