both

Definition

Each of the two; one and the other; referring to two individuals or items.

Etymology

From Middle English bothe, boþe, from Old English bā þā (“both the; both those”) and possibly reinforced by Old Norse báðir, from Proto-Germanic *bai. Cognate with Saterland Frisian bee (“both”), West Frisian beide (“both”), Dutch beide (“both”), German beide (“both”), Swedish både, båda, Danish både, Norwegian både, Icelandic báðir. Replaced Middle English bō, from Old English bā, a form of Old English bēġen. A remnant of the Indo-European dual grammatical number.

Example Sentences

• "Both (the/my) children are such dolls."
• "Which one do you need? ―I need both of them."
• "Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant."