Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - ever

~ adv 1 a word meaning at any time; used mostly in questions, negatives, comparisons, or sentences with `if'  (Nothing ever makes Ted angry. | "Do you ever get to the theatre?" "No, never." | I don't remember ever seeing him before. | If you're ever in Seattle, come and see me. | have you ever)  ("Have you ever been to Paris?" "Yes, I have." | That's the biggest fish I've ever seen. | hotter/thinner/taller etc than ever (=hotter, thinner etc than before))  (It's colder than ever today. | as friendly/cheerful/boring etc as ever (=as friendly, cheerful etc as in the past))  (Magda was pale and thin, but her eyes were as bright as ever. | hardly ever (=almost never))  (I hardly ever see Sara these days. | never ever spoken (=used to emphasize that something has never happened or someone has never done something))  (or)  (I never ever said anything like that! | rarely, if ever (=probably never))  (Brian rarely, if ever, gets to bed before 3 am. | if ever there was one spoken (=used when saying that someone or something is a typical example of something))  (Joe's great, a real Northern comic if ever there was one.) 2 a word meaning always; used especially with expressions of time  (Ever optimistic, Gemma decided to give him another chance. | His company is making ever larger profits. | ever since (=continuously since))  (Paul came here for a holiday several years ago and he's been here ever since. | for ever)  (He said he would love her for ever. | for ever and ever (=always, used especially in children's stories) | happily ever after (=used at the end of children's stories))  (The prince and princess got married and lived happily ever after. | as ever especially BrE (=as usually happens))  (As ever, Kim refused to admit she was wrong. | ever-growing/ever-increasing/ever-present etc (=always growing etc))  (the ever-increasing problems of our inner cities) 3 how/what/who etc ever BrE old-fashioned used to add force to a question  (How ever shall we get there? | Whatever are you doing?) 4 did you ever! old-fashioned used to show your surprise, disbelief etc  (Did you ever hear of such a thing!) 5 ever so cold/wet/nice etc BrE spoken very cold, wet etc  (The assistant was ever so helpful. | Thanks ever so much.) 6 ever such a nice boy/cold day/pretty colour etc BrE a very nice, cold etc person or thing  (You'll like her, she's ever such a nice girl.) 7 Was sb ever AmE spoken used to add force to a statement  (Was he ever mad! (=he was very angry)) 8 Yours ever/Ever yours informal used at the end of a letter above the signature 9 ever and anon poetical from time to time