both

both
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") + extended base. Another traces it to the P.Gmc. formula represented in O.E. by ba þa "both these," from ba (feminine nominative and accusative of begen) + þa, nominative and accusative plural of se "that." A third traces it to O.N. baðir "both," from *bai thaiz "both the," from P.Gmc. *thaiz, third person plural pronoun. Cf. O.Fris. bethe, Du. beide, O.H.G. beide, Ger. beide, Goth. bajoþs.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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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 — ► 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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