always
UK[ˈɔːlweɪz]US[ˈɔːlweɪz]
adv
At all times; on every occasion.
adv
For all future time; forever.
Etymology
The word 'always' is a Middle English fusion of the Old English phrase 'ealne weg', meaning 'all the way' or 'continuously'. 'Ealne' is the accusative form of 'eall' (all), and 'weg' means 'way' or 'path'. Over time, this adverbial phrase condensed into a single word, first appearing as 'alles weis' and later 'alweis' in Middle English, before standardizing to 'always'. This evolution from a literal concept of a complete journey to an abstract sense of perpetual occurrence is a classic example of grammaticalization, where a lexical phrase solidifies into a function word expressing universal time.
Analysis
N/A
Examples
She always double-checks her work before submitting it.
I will always remember your kindness.
The sun always rises in the east.