EGOIST. "One of a class of philosophers who professed to be sure of nothing but their own existence."--Reid.
EGOTIST. "One who talks much of himself."
"A tribe of _egotists_ for whom I have always had a mortal aversion."--"Spectator."
EITHER. This word means, strictly, the _one_ or the _other_ of two. Unlike _both_, which means two taken collectively, _either_, like _each_, may mean _two considered separately_; but in this sense _each_ is the better word to use. "Give me _either_ of them" means, Give me the one or the other of two. "He has a farm on _either_ side of the river" would mean that he has two farms, one on each (or either) side of the river. "He has a farm on _both_ sides of the river" would mean that his farm lies partly on the one side of the river and partly on the other. The use of _either_ in the sense of _each_, though biblical and defensible, may be accounted little if any better than an affectation. _Neither_ is the negative of _either_. _Either_ is responded to by _or_, _neither_ by _nor_; as, "_either_ this _or_ that," "_neither_ this _nor_ that." _Either_ and _neither_ should not--strictly--be used in relation to more than two objects. But, though both _either_ and _neither_ are strictly applicable to two only, they have been for a very long time used in relation to more than two by many good writers; and, as it is often convenient so to use them, it seems probable that the custom will prevail. When more than two things are referred to, _any_ and _none_ should be used instead of _either_ and _neither_; as, "_any_ of the three," not, "_either_ of the three"; "_none_ of the four," not, "_neither_ of the four."
EITHER ALTERNATIVE. The word _alternative_ means a choice offered between two things. An _alternative writ_, for example, offers the _alternative_ of choosing between the doing of a specified act or of showing cause why it is not done. Such propositions, therefore, as, "You are at liberty to choose _either_ alternative," "_Two_ alternatives are presented to me," "_Several_ alternatives presented themselves," and the like, are not correct English. The word is correctly used thus: "I am confronted with a hard _alternative_: I must either denounce a friend or betray my trust." We rarely hear the word _alternate_ or any of its derivatives correctly pronounced.