both

both
adj., pron., & adv.
—adj. & pron. the two, not only one (both boys; both the boys; both of the boys; the boys are both here).
Usage:
Widely used with of, esp. when followed by a pronoun (e.g. both of us) or a noun implying separate rather than collective consideration, e.g. both of the boys suggests each boy rather than the two together.
—adv. with equal truth in two cases (both the boy and his sister are here; are both here and hungry).
Phrases and idioms:
both ways = each way. have it both ways alternate between two incompatible points of view to suit the needs of the moment.
Etymology: ME f. ON baacutethir

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • both — 1. general. Both, when modifying a single item, refers to two things or persons (both houses / both women); when, as both…and…, it couples two items, each of these may be singular (both the woman and the man) or plural (both the women and the… …   Modern English usage

  • both — [ bouθ ] function word, quantifier *** Both can be used in the following ways: as a determiner (followed by a noun, but not by a pronoun): Both children are at school. as a predeterminer (followed by a word such as the, this, his, etc.): I like… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Both — Both, a. or pron. [OE. bothe, ba?e, fr. Icel. b[=a]?ir; akin to Dan. baade, Sw. b[*a]da, Goth. baj??s, OHG. beid?, b?d?, G. & D. beide, also AS. begen, b[=a], b?, Goth. bai, and Gr. ?, L. ambo, Lith. ab[ a], OSlav. oba, Skr. ubha. [root]310. Cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Both — ist der Name eines mecklenburgischen Uradelsgeschlechtes, siehe Both (Adelsgeschlecht) Both ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Andries Both (1612/1613–1641), holländischer Maler Carl Friedrich von Both (1789–1875), deutscher Jurist und… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Both — Both, conj. As well; not only; equally. [1913 Webster] Note: Both precedes the first of two co[ o]rdinate words or phrases, and is followed by and before the other, both . . . and . . .; as well the one as the other; not only this, but also that; …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • both — [bōth] adj., pron. [ME bothe < OE ba tha, both these < ba, fem. nom. & acc. of begen, both + tha, nom. & acc. pl. of se, that, the: akin to ON bathir, OS bethia, MDu bede, Ger beide: see AMBI ] the two; the one and the other [both birds… …   English World dictionary

  • both — there are several theories, all similar, and deriving the word from the tendency to say both the. One is that it is O.E. begen (masc.) both (from P.Gmc. *ba, from PIE *bho both ) + þ extended base. Another traces it to the P.Gmc. formula… …   Etymology dictionary

  • both — ► PREDETERMINER , DETERMINER , & PRONOUN ▪ two people or things, regarded and identified together. ► ADVERB ▪ applying equally to each of two alternatives. ● have it both ways Cf. ↑have it both ways USAGE When both is …   English terms dictionary

  • both´er|er — both|er «BOTH uhr», noun, verb, interjection. –n. 1. much fuss or worry about small matters; trouble: »What a lot of bother about nothing! SYNONYM(S): disturbance. 2. a person or thing that causes worry, fuss, or trouble: »A door that will not… …   Useful english dictionary

  • both|er — «BOTH uhr», noun, verb, interjection. –n. 1. much fuss or worry about small matters; trouble: »What a lot of bother about nothing! SYNONYM(S): disturbance. 2. a person or thing that causes worry, fuss, or trouble: »A door that will not shut is a… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Both [1] — Both, 1) ein Bündel Flachs; 2) Weinmaß, so v.w. Bota …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

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