Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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. {Amb}-.] The one and the other; the two; the pair, without exception of either. Note: It is generally used adjectively with nouns; as, both horses ran away; but with pronouns, and often with nous, it is used substantively, and followed by of. Note: It frequently stands as a pronoun. She alone is heir to both of us. --Shak. Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant. --Gen. xxi. 27. He will not bear the loss of his rank, because he can bear the loss of his estate; but he will bear both, because he is prepared for both. --Bolingbroke. Note: It is often used in apposition with nouns or pronouns. Thy weal and woe are both of them extremes. --Shak. This said, they both betook them several ways. --Milton. Note: Both now always precedes any other attributive words; as, both their armies; both our eyes. Note: Both of is used before pronouns in the objective case; as, both of us, them, whom, etc.; but before substantives its used is colloquial, both (without of) being the preferred form; as, both the brothers.
\Both\, conj. As well; not only; equally. 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; equally the former and the latter. It is also sometimes followed by more than two co["o]rdinate words, connected by and expressed or understood. To judge both quick and dead. --Milton. A masterpiece both for argument and style. --Goldsmith. To whom bothe heven and erthe and see is sene. --Chaucer. Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound. --Goldsmith. He prayeth well who loveth well Both man and bird and beast. --Coleridge.