What does ev mean in early modern English a.k.a shakespeare?

"Ev" is a contraction of the word "ever." It was commonly used in Early Modern English, including in Shakespeare's works, to convey a sense of perpetuity or constant occurrence. Here are a few examples from Shakespeare's plays:

- "But love is blind and lovers cannot see / The pretty follies that themselves commit. For if they could, Cupid himself would blush / To see me thus transformed to a boy. But what say you? Shall I go about your errand? For in my mind 'tis dangerous to make a woman of the Housekeeper; the lady of the party can do most, / For every device she'll find a counter." (As You Like It, Act III, Scene ii)

- "Ev'n in those moments that we mean to live, / Our time is fled away." (Othello, Act II, Scene iii)

- "Ev'n with the very thought of thee is poison to my soul." (Romeo and Juliet, Act V, Scene iii)

In these examples, "ev" is used to emphasize the continuous or repeated nature of the mentioned actions or thoughts. It adds a sense of ongoingness and reinforces the timeless or persistent aspects of the context.