on an even keel Definition

even¹
adj

1. Smooth and flat.

Thesaurus: flat, smooth, level.
2. Constant or regular.

Example: travelling at an even 50mph
Thesaurus: uniform, similar, alike, regular, equal, homogeneous, equivalent, commensurate.
3. Said of a number: divisible by 2, with nothing left over.
4. Designated or marked by an even number.

Example: the even houses in the street
5. Level, on the same plane or at the same height as it.

Form: even with something (usually)
6. Having no advantage over or owing no debt to them.

Form: even with someone (often)
7. Said of temper or character, etc: calm.
8. Equal.

Example: an even chance

adverb

1. Used with a comparative to emphasize a comparison with something else.

Example: He's good, but she's even better
Thesaurus: still, yet; moreover.
2. Used with an expression stronger than a previous one.

Example: He looked sad, even depressed
3. Used to introduce a surprising piece of information

Example: Even John was there!
4. Used to indicate a lower extreme in an implied comparison

Example: Even a child would have known that!

verb

evened, evening
1. To make it equal.

Thesaurus: stabilize, steady, balance, equalize, regulate, level, align.
Form: even something up (often)

noun

1. An even number, or something designated by one.

Form: evens (usually)
2. Same as even money.

Form: evens

Derivative: evenly

In an even way; uniformly.

In equal parts or shares.
Example: evenly divided

Derivative: evenness
noun

Idiom: even as

At that, or this, very moment when something specified happened or happens.
Example: Even as we speak the result is announced

Idiom: even if (even so, even though)

Used to emphasize that whether or not something is or might be true, the following or preceding statement is or would remain true.
Example: He'd be unhappy even if he did get the job
Example: He got the job but, even so, he's still unhappy

Idiom: even now

Still; after all that has happened.

Idiom: even then

After all that had happened, will have happened, or would have happened.

Idiom: get even with someone

To be revenged on them.

Idiom: on an even keel

Balanced; not tilting to either side.

Said eg of business affairs: well organized; running smoothly.

Said of a person: not in an unstable state of mind.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon efen.

Phrasal Verb: even out

To become level or regular.

Phrasal Verb: even something out or up

To make it smooth or level.

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keel¹
noun

1. The timber or metal strut extending from stem to stern along the base of a ship, from which the hull is built up.
2. A structure resembling or corresponding to a ship's keel.
3a. biol.
The projection of bone from the sternum which the flight muscles of birds are attached to;
3b. biol.
Any similar structure functioning like a keel.

verb

tr & intr
keeled, keeling
1. To capsize.

Derivative: keeled

Keel-shaped.

Having a ridge on the back.

Idiom: on an even keel

Calm and steady.

Etymology: 14c as kele: from Norse kjölr.

Phrasal Verb: keel over

Said of a ship: to tip over sideways.To fall over, eg in a faint.