Ever

Hi MrM,

You wrote, "Ever means at any time."      Did you mean any time from the past, now and continuing on to the future?

Is it OK to say, "Thomas Edison invented the first-ever light bulb on earth" (We know nothing outside of our solar system.) or "Steve Job invented the first-ever personal computer on earth" or "Neil Armstrong made history by becoming the first-ever man to walk on the moon"?

Thanks for the help.

Yes, at any time is at any time.

Your statements about Thomas A. Edison and Steve Job violate the reality principle-- we have no need to consider other planets in these contexts.  Your Neil Armstrong statement sounds fine.  Seeing first-ever in these contexts, however, forces me to consider the formation slightly adolescent in its redundance and enthusiasm, and I would not like to see it in a written essay or business letter-- a simple non-gradable first is sufficient.

Lowest Price Ever!

Is 'ever' an intensifier?

or, it means at any time?

or, it means something else?

Thanks,

Hi MrP,

Now, I see.

Have you read 'Longman Language Activator'?

The dictionary claims it is the world's first production dictionary.  

I think they've made up the term 'production dictionary', but unfortunately there is no such entry in it to explain it.

There are some descriptions on its sleeve though, but not explicitly.

__________

What about my questions:

"Lowest Price Ever!"

Is 'ever' an intensifier?

or, it means at any time?

or, it means something else?

Thanks,