[HPforGrownups] Re: That damn Prophecy - 'either'

[Erika L.]

No: HPFGUIDX 77889

hg wrote:

>Replace the pronouns similarly in >Sachmet's idea, post 
>75158:  "...when I first read that I >understood it that Harry and 
>Voldemort will die. According to my >dictionary either can mean 'each 
>of two'. So I took it they both die."


Erika L. wrote:
>
> It's true that in the expression 'on either side' 'either' means
> 'both' : There was tension on either side = There was tension on
> both sides. However, I don't think that 'either' has this sense in
> any other context, and the dictionary doesn't give any other
> example of the word having this meaning. In light of this, I don't
> see how 'either' in the context of the prophecy can meaning
> anything other than 'one or the other'

T.M. Sommers replied:

>In describing the stadium at the QWC, >Rowling mentions the goals at 
>either end of the field, so she is >certainly aware of this usage.  I 
>also don't see how the example you cite is >significantly different 
>from the wording of the prophecy.  I am >certain that Rowling chose to 
>use 'either' in the prophecy precisely >because it is ambiguous.

me Erika (Wolfraven)

I did not in any way mean to imply that JKR was unfamiliar with both meanings of 'either'. Both usages are current, so I'm sure she does know them both. My problem, however, is that I can't think of  an example of 'either' meaning 'both' in a context that doesn't have some sort of spacial connotation. To my knowledge (and yes I realize I don't know everything ;)  'either' as 'both' _almost_  always occurs in the expression 'on either side'. Granted, that's not always the case, just the most frequent. Here's a link that provides a few literary examples:

http://www.hyperdictionary.com/dictionary/either

It's definition 1.2 and here are the examples:
His flowing hair In curls on either cheek played. --Milton.

On either side . . . was there the tree of life. --Rev. xxii. 2.

The extreme right and left of either army never engaged. --Jowett (Thucyd).

    Each of these instances refers to location or position in one way or another. In the Milton quote the question is where is his flowing hair? On either cheek. In the quote from Revelations, where was the tree? On either side. The Jowett's Thucydides quote is a little different, but it still has a spacial connotation-- it's the sections of the army that are to the right and to the left that are the subject here.

    Look, I'm not an expert at grammar. I'm one of those people who knows how to write grammatically, but has trouble explaining grammar. What I'm asking is can anyone give me any example in which 'either' is used to mean 'both' in a context in which the subject relates to two people? "Either must die" That means either _person_-- Harry or Voldermort (or some other two depending on one's interpretation of the prophecy). The point is that it's either of two people; it's not one of two sides, areas, or sections, or anything like that. I just  can't see 'either' meaning 'both' *in this context*. 

Best,

Erika (Wolfraven)




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