both

• POS: Conjunction, Definite Article
• COUNT in NET: 310 in 303 verses (in OT : 220 in 214 verses) (in NT : 90 in 89 verses)

CIDE DICTIONARY

both, a. or pron. [OE. bothe, bae, fr. Icel. bāir; akin to Dan. baade, Sw. båda, Goth. bajs, OHG. beid, bd, G. & D. beide, also AS. begen, bā, b, Goth. bai, and Gr. , L. ambo, Lith. abà, OSlav. oba, Skr. ubha. Amb-.].

 The one and the other; the two; the pair, without exception of either.  [1913 Webster]
" 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."  [1913 Webster]
"It frequently stands as a pronoun."  [1913 Webster]
"It is often used in apposition with nouns or pronouns."  [1913 Webster]
"Both now always precedes any other attributive words; as, both their armies; both our eyes."  [1913 Webster]
"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."  [1913 Webster]
"She alone is heir to both of us."  [1913 Webster]
"Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant."  [1913 Webster]
"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."  [1913 Webster]
"Thy weal and woe are both of them extremes."  [1913 Webster]
"This said, they both betook them several ways."  [1913 Webster]

both, conj. 

 As well; not only; equally.  [1913 Webster]
"Both precedes the first of two coördinate 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 coördinate words, connected by and expressed or understood."  [1913 Webster]
"To judge both quick and dead."  [1913 Webster]
"A masterpiece both for argument and style."  [1913 Webster]
"To whom bothe heven and erthe and see is sene."  [1913 Webster]
"Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound."  [1913 Webster]
"He prayeth well who loveth well
Both man and bird and beast."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

both, adj., pron., & adv.
--adj. & pron. the two, not only one (both boys; both the boys; both of the boys; the boys are both here).

Idiom

both ways = each way. have it both ways alternate between two incompatible points of view to suit the needs of the moment.

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).

Etymology

ME f. ON b{aacute}thir

THESAURUS

both

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

ROGET THESAURUS

both

Duality

N duality, dualism, duplicity, biplicity, biformity, polarity, two, deuce, couple, duet, brace, pair, cheeks, twins, Castor and Pollux, gemini, Siamese twins, fellows, yoke, conjugation, dispermy, doublets, dyad, span, two, twin, dual, dualistic, double, binary, binomial, twin, biparous, dyadic, conduplicate, duplex, biduous, binate, diphyletic, dispermic, unijugate, tete-a-tete, coupled, conjugate, both, both the one and the other.