Adjacent Words

Both definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

BOTH, a. Two, considered as distinct from others or by themselves; the one and the other.
This word is often placed before the nouns with which it is connected.
He understands how to manage both public and private concerns.
It is often used as a substitute for nouns.
And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them to Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant. Genesis 21.
Both often represents two members of a sentence.
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.
Both often pertains to adjectives or attributes,and in this case generally precedes them in construction; as, he endeavored to render commerce both disadvantageous and infamous.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: (used with count nouns) two considered together; the two; "both girls are pretty"

Merriam Webster's

I. pronoun, plural in construction Etymology: Middle English bothe, probably from Old Norse b?thir; akin to Old High German beide both Date: 12th century the one as well as the other <both of us> <we are both well> <$1000 fine or 30 days in jail, or both> II. conjunction Date: 12th century — used as a function word to indicate and stress the inclusion of each of two or more things specified by coordinated words, phrases, or clauses <prized both for its beauty and for its utility> <he…who loveth well both man and bird and beast — S. T. Coleridge> III. adjective Date: 13th century being the two ; affecting or involving the one and the other <both feet> <both his eyes> <both these armies>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

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 báthir

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Both 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.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. You use both when you are referring to two people or things and saying that something is true about each of them. She cried out in fear and flung both arms up to protect her face... Put both vegetables into a bowl and crush with a potato masher. DET: DET pl-n • Both is also a quantifier. Both of these women have strong memories of the Vietnam War... We're going to Andreas's Boutique to pick out something original for both of us. QUANT: QUANT of pl-n • Both is also a pronoun. Miss Brown and her friend, both from Stoke, were arrested on the 8th of June... Will there be public-works programmes, or community service, or both? PRON • Both is also an emphasizing pronoun. He visited the Institute of Neurology in Havana where they both worked... 'Well, I'll leave you both, then,' said Gregory. PRON: n PRON • Both is also a predeterminer. Both the band's writers are fascinating lyricists... Both the horses were out, tacked up and ready to ride. PREDET: PREDET det pl-n [emphasis] 2. You use the structure both...and when you are giving two facts or alternatives and emphasizing that each of them is true or possible. Now women work both before and after having their children... Any such action would have to be approved by both American and Saudi leaders. CONJ

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. a. The two, the one and the other, one as well as the other, the pair, the couple. II. conj. [Preceding a word or phrase which is followed by and; Both-and.] As well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but.

Moby Thesaurus

a deux, brace, couple, couplet, distich, double harness, doublet, duad, duet, duo, dyad, either, for two, match, mates, pair, set of two, span, team, tete-a-tete, the two, twain, two, twosome, yoke