Each, a. or a. pron.
Etymology: [OE. eche, ælc, elk, ilk, AS. ælc; a always + gelic like; akin to OD. ieg, OHG. , MHG. iegelich. Aye, Like, and cf. Either, Every, Ilk.]
1. Every one of the two or more individuals composing a number of objects, considered separately from the rest. It is used either with or without a following noun; as, each of you or each one of you. "Each of the combatants." Fielding.
Note: To each corresponds other. "Let each esteem other better than himself." Each other, used elliptically for each the other. It is our duty to assist each other; that is, it is our duty, each to assist the other, each being in the nominative and other in the objective case. It is a bad thing that men should hate each other; but it is far worse that they should contract the habit of cutting one another's throats without hatred. Macaulay. Let each His adamantine coat gird well. Milton. In each cheek appears a pretty dimple. Shak. Then draw we nearer day by day, Each to his brethren, all to God. Keble. The oak and the elm have each a distinct character. Gilpin.
2. Every; -- sometimes used interchangeably with every. Shak. I know each lane and every alley green. Milton. In short each man's happiness depends upon himself. Sterne.
Note: This use of each for every, though common in Scotland and in America, is now un-English. Fitzed. Hall.
1 more senses
Syn. -- See Every.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for each; he lists it under apiece, every.
Where he writes about it:
There is no discernible difference in sense between so much apiece and so much each; the former is the more common and popular, the latter the more elegant expression. — from apiece
The signers of a note may become jointly and severally responsible, that is, each liable for the entire amount, as if he had signed it alone. — from apiece
If a company of laborers demand a dollar apiece, that is a demand that each shall receive that sum; if they individually demand a dollar, each individual makes the demand. — from apiece
All and both are collective; any, each, and every are distributive. — from every
Any makes no selection and may not reach to the full limits of all; each and every make no exception or omission, and must extend to all; all sweeps in the units as part of a total, each and every proceed through the units to the total. — from every
A promise made to all omits none; a promise made to any may not reach all; a promise made to every one is so made that no individual shall fail to be aware of it; a promise made to each is made to the individuals personally, one by one. — from every
Each is thus more individual and specific than every; every classifies, each individualizes. — from every
Each divides, both unites; if a certain sum is given to each of two persons, both (together) must receive twice the amount; both must be aware of what has been separately communicated to each; a man may fire both barrels of a gun by a single movement; if he fires each barrel, he discharges them separately. — from every