Dictionary Thesaurus Word Dynamo Quotes Reference Translator Spanish

both

[bohth]

Example Sentences Origin

adjective

one and the other; two together: He met both sisters. Both performances were canceled.

pronoun

the one as well as the other: Both of us were going to the party.

00:10

00:09

00:08

00:07

00:06

00:05

00:04

00:03

00:02

00:01

Both is always a great word to know.

So is callithumpian. Does it mean:

a fool or simpleton; ninny.

a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.

LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

conjunction

alike; equally: He is both ready and willing.

Origin:
1125–75; Middle English bothe, bathe, influenced by Scandinavian (compare Old Norse bāthir both; cognate with German, Dutch beide, Gothic ba tho skipa both (the) ships, Old High German bêde < *bai thai); replacing Middle English bo, ba, Old English bā; cognate with Gothic bai; akin to Latin ambō, Greek ámphō, Lithuanian abù, Sanskrit ubháu

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source

Link To Both

Example Sentences

Give your guests options by serving both these sides.

In both instances, readers were kind enough to provide constructive criticism.

The risk remains that both parties may retreat to their trenches while the clock ticks down.

EXPAND

Collins

World English Dictionary

both (bəʊθ)

—*determiner*
1.	a. the two; two considered together: both dogs were dirty
	b. (as pronoun): both are to blame

—*conj*
2.	(coordinating) used preceding words, phrases, or clauses joined by and, used to emphasize that not just one, but also the other of the joined elements is included: both Ellen and Keith enjoyed the play; both new and exciting

[C12: from Old Norse bāthir; related to Old High German bēde, Latin ambō, Greek amphō]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

both

there are several theories, all similar, and deriving the word from the tendency to say "both the." One is that it is O.E. begen (masc.) "both" (from P.Gmc. *ba, from PIE *bho "both") + -þ extended base. Another traces it to the P.Gmc. formula represented in O.E. by ba þa "both these," from

EXPAND

ba (feminine nominative and accusative of begen) + þa, nominative and accusative plural of se "that." A third traces it to O.N. baðir "both," from *bai thaiz "both the," from P.Gmc. *thaiz, third person plural pronoun. Cf. O.Fris. bethe, Du. beide, O.H.G. beide, Ger. beide, Goth. bajoþs.

COLLAPSE

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source

American Heritage

Idioms & Phrases

both

In addition to the idioms beginning with both, also see best of both worlds; burn the candle at both ends; cut both ways; foot in both camps; have it both ways; play both ends against the middle; work both sides of the street.