Adjacent Words

Between definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

BETWEE'N, prep.
1. In the intermediate space, without regard to distance; as, New York is between Boston and Philadelphia; the Delaware river runs between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
2. From one another; passing from one to another, noting exchange of actions or intercourse; as, things go well between the parties.
3. Belonging to two or more, in common or partnership; as, two friends have but one soul between them; twenty proprietors own a tract of land between them. We observe that between is not restricted to two.
4. Having mutual relation to two or more; as, discords exist between the families.
5. Noting difference, or discrimination of one from another; as, to distinguish between right and wrong.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adv
1: in the interval; "dancing all the dances with little rest between" [syn: between, betwixt]
2: in between; "two houses with a tree between" [syn: between, 'tween]

Merriam Webster's

I. preposition Etymology: Middle English betwene, preposition & adverb, from Old English betw?onum, from be- + -tw?onum (dative plural) (akin to Gothic tweihnai two each); akin to Old English tw? two Date: before 12th century 1. a. by the common action of ; jointly engaging <shared the work between the two of them> <talks between the three — Time> b. in common to ; shared by <divided between his four grandchildren> 2. a. in the time, space, or interval that separates b. in intermediate relation to 3. a. from one to another of <air service between Miami and Chicago> b. serving to connect or unite in a relationship (as difference, likeness, or proportion) <a one-to-one correspondence between sets> c. setting apart <the line between fact and fancy> 4. a. in preference for one or the other of <had no difficulty deciding between the two> b. in point of comparison of <not much to choose between the two coats> 5. in confidence restricted to <a secret between you and me> 6. taking together the combined effect of <between work and family life, they have no time for hobbies> Usage: There is a persistent but unfounded notion that between can be used only of two items and that among must be used for more than two. Between has been used of more than two since Old English; it is especially appropriate to denote a one-to-one relationship, regardless of the number of items. It can be used when the number is unspecified <economic cooperation between nations>, when more than two are enumerated <between you and me and the lamppost> <partitioned between Austria, Prussia, and Russia — Nathaniel Benchley>, and even when only one item is mentioned (but repetition is implied) <pausing between every sentence to rap the floor — George Eliot>. Among is more appropriate where the emphasis is on distribution rather than individual relationships <discontent among the peasants>. When among is automatically chosen for more than two, English idiom may be strained <a worthy book that nevertheless falls among many stools — John Simon> <the author alternates among mod slang, clichés and quotes from literary giants — A. H. Johnston>. II. adverb Date: before 12th century in an intermediate space or interval

Oxford Reference Dictionary

prep. & adv. --prep. 1 a at or to a point in the area or interval bounded by two or more other points in space, time, etc. (broke down between London and Dover; we must meet between now and Friday). b along the extent of such an area or interval (there are five shops between here and the main road; works best between five and six; the numbers between 10 and 20). 2 separating, physically or conceptually (the distance between here and Leeds; the difference between right and wrong). 3 a by combining the resources of (great potential between them; between us we could afford it). b shared by; as the joint resources of (£5 between them). c by joint or reciprocal action (an agreement between us; sorted it out between themselves). Usage: In sense 3 with reference to more than two people or things is established and acceptable (e.g. relations between Britain, France, and Germany). 4 to and from (runs between London and Sheffield). 5 taking one and rejecting the other of (decide between eating here and going out). --adv. (also in between) at a point or in the area bounded by two or more other points in space, time, sequence, etc. (not fat or thin but in between). Phrases and idioms: between ourselves (or you and me) in confidence. between times (or whiles) in the intervals between other actions; occasionally. Etymology: OE betweonum f. Gmc (as BY, TWO)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Between Be*tween", prep. [OE. bytwene, bitweonen, AS. betwe['o]nan, betwe['o]num; prefix be- by + a form fr. AS. tw[=a] two, akin to Goth. tweihnai two apiece. See Twain, and cf. Atween, Betwixt.] 1. In the space which separates; betwixt; as, New York is between Boston and Philadelphia. 2. Used in expressing motion from one body or place to another; from one to another of two. If things should go so between them. --Bacon. 3. Belonging in common to two; shared by both. Castor and Pollux with only one soul between them. --Locke. 4. Belonging to, or participated in by, two, and involving reciprocal action or affecting their mutual relation; as, opposition between science and religion. An intestine struggle, open or secret, between authority and liberty. --Hume. 5. With relation to two, as involved in an act or attribute of which another is the agent or subject; as, to judge between or to choose between courses; to distinguish between you and me; to mediate between nations. 6. In intermediate relation to, in respect to time, quantity, or degree; as, between nine and ten o'clock. Between decks, the space, or in the space, between the decks of a vessel. Between ourselves, Between you and me, Between themselves, in confidence; with the understanding that the matter is not to be communicated to others. Syn: Between, Among. Usage: Between etymologically indicates only two; as, a quarrel between two men or two nations; to be between two fires, etc. It is however extended to more than two in expressing a certain relation. I . . . hope that between public business, improving studies, and domestic pleasures, neither melancholy nor caprice will find any place for entrance. --Johnson. Among implies a mass or collection of things or persons, and always supposes more than two; as, the prize money was equally divided among the ship's crew.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Between Be*tween", n. Intermediate time or space; interval. [Poetic & R.] --Shak.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. Note: In addition to the uses shown below, 'between' is used in a few phrasal verbs, such as 'come between'. 1. If something is between two things or is in between them, it has one of the things on one side of it and the other thing on the other side. She left the table to stand between the two men... Charlie crossed between the traffic to the far side of the street. PREP: usu PREP pl-n 2. If people or things travel between two places, they travel regularly from one place to the other and back again. I spent a lot of time in the early Eighties travelling between London and Bradford. PREP: PREP pl-n 3. A relationship, discussion, or difference between two people, groups, or things is one that involves them both or relates to them both. I think the relationship between patients and doctors has got a lot less personal... There has always been a difference between community radio and commercial radio. PREP: PREP pl-n 4. If something stands between you and what you want, it prevents you from having it. His sense of duty often stood between him and the enjoyment of life. PREP: PREP n and n 5. If something is between two amounts or ages, it is greater or older than the first one and smaller or younger than the second one. Amsterdam is fun–a third of its population is aged between 18 and 30. PREP: PREP num and num 6. If something happens between or in between two times or events, it happens after the first time or event and before the second one. The canal was built between 1793 and 1797... PREP: PREP pl-n, PREP num and num • Between is also an adverb. ...a journey by jetfoil, coach and two aircraft, with a four-hour wait in Bangkok in between. ADV: ADV with cl/group 7. If you must choose between two or more things, you must choose just one of them. Students will be able to choose between English, French and Russian as their first foreign language. PREP: PREP pl-n 8. If people or places have a particular amount of something between them, this is the total amount that they have. The three sites employ 12,500 people between them... PREP: PREP pron 9. When something is divided or shared between people, they each have a share of it. There is only one bathroom shared between eight bedrooms. = amongst PREP: PREP pl-n 10. When you introduce a statement by saying 'between you and me' or 'between ourselves', you are indicating that you do not want anyone else to know what you are saying. Between you and me, though, it's been awful for business... Between ourselves, I know he wants to marry her. PHRASE: PHR with cl

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

prep. Betwixt.