a playing card, die face, or half of a domino face with two pips.
–adjective
5.
amounting to two in number.
—Idioms
6.
in two, into two separate parts, as halves: A bolt of lightning split the tree in two.
7.
put two and two together, to draw a correct conclusion from the given circumstances; infer: It didn't require a great mind to put two and two together.
[Origin: bef. 900; ME; OE twā (fem. and neut.; cf. twain); c. G zwei; cf. L duo, Gk dýo]
O.E. twa, fem. and neut. form of twegen "two" (see twain), from P.Gmc. *twai (cf. O.S., O.Fris. twene, twa, O.N. tveir, tvau, Du. twee, O.H.G. zwene, zwo, Ger. zwei, Goth. twai), from PIE *duwo (cf. Skt. dvau, Avestan dva, Gk. duo, L. duo, O.Welsh dou, Lith. dvi, O.C.S. duva, first element in Hittite ta-ugash "two years old"). Twofold is O.E. tweofeald. Dance style two-step is recorded from 1900. Twofer is first recorded 1911 (originally in ref. to cigars), from two for (a dollar, etc.).Two-faced "deceitful" first recorded 1619. Two cheers for _____, expressing qualified enthusiasm first recorded 1951 in E.M. Forster's title "Two Cheers for Democracy." Two-dimensional is recorded from 1883; fig. sense of "lacking substance or depth" is attested from 1934.
Two Harbors, MN (city, FIPS 65956) Location: 47.03034 N, 91.67567 W Population (1990): 3651 (1660 housing units) Area: 8.4 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 55616
Two Rivers, WI (city, FIPS 81325) Location: 44.15628 N, 87.58119 W Population (1990): 13030 (5414 housing units) Area: 14.3 sq km (land), 1.1 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 54241
Two Buttes, CO (town, FIPS 79270) Location: 37.56055 N, 102.39591 W Population (1990): 63 (31 housing units) Area: 0.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Two Rivers, AK (CDP, FIPS 79830) Location: 64.87099 N, 147.09001 W Population (1990): 453 (209 housing units) Area: 32.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Two Strike, SD (CDP, FIPS 64840) Location: 43.21304 N, 100.87521 W Population (1990): 112 (29 housing units) Area: 6.8 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Bi-\ [L. bis twice, which in composition drops the -s, akin to E. two. See Bis-, Two, and cf. Di-, Dis-.]1. In most branches of science bi- in composition denotes two, twice, or doubly; as, bidentate, two-toothed; biternate, doubly ternate, etc. 2. (Chem.) In the composition of chemical names bi- denotes two atoms, parts, or equivalents of that constituent to the name of which it is prefixed, to one of the other component, or that such constituent is present in double the ordinary proportion; as, bichromate, bisulphide. Be- and di- are often used interchangeably.
Bis\, adv. [L. bis twice, for duis, fr. root of duo two. See Two, and cf. Bi-.] Twice; -- a word showing that something is, or is to be, repeated; as a passage of music, or an item in accounts.
Deuce\ (d[=u]s), n. [F. deux two, OF. deus, fr. L. duo. See Two.]1. (Gaming) Two; a card or a die with two spots; as, the deuce of hearts. 2. (Tennis) A condition of the score beginning whenever each side has won three strokes in the same game (also reckoned "40 all"), and reverted to as often as a tie is made until one of the sides secures two successive strokes following a tie or deuce, which decides the game.
Di-\ [Gr. di`s- twice; akin to ? two, L. bis twice. See Two, and cf. Bi-, Dia-. The L. pref. dis- sometimes assumes the form di-. See Dis-.] A prefix, signifying twofold, double, twice; (Chem.) denoting two atoms, radicals, groups, or equivalents, as the case may be. See Bi-, 2.
Di"a-\, Di- \Di-\ . [Gr. dia` through; orig., dividing into two parts; akin to ? two. See Two, and cf. 1st Di-.] A prefix denoting through; also, between, apart, asunder, across. Before a vowel dia-becomes di-; as, diactinic; dielectric, etc.
Dis-\ (?; 258) . 1. A prefix from the Latin, whence F. d['e]s, or sometimes d['e]-, dis-. The Latin dis-appears as di-before b, d, g, l, m, n, r, v, becomes dif-before f, and either dis-or di- before j. It is from the same root as bis twice, and duo, E. two. See Two, and cf. Bi-, Di-, Dia-. Dis-denotes separation, a parting from, as in distribute, disconnect; hence it often has the force of a privative and negative, as in disarm, disoblige, disagree. Also intensive, as in dissever. Note: Walker's rule of pronouncing this prefix is, that the s ought always to be pronounced like z, when the next syllable is accented and begins with "a flat mute [b, d, v, g, z], a liquid [l, m, n, r], or a vowel; as, disable, disease, disorder, disuse, disband, disdain, disgrace, disvalue, disjoin, dislike, dislodge, dismay, dismember, dismiss, dismount, disnatured, disrank, disrelish, disrobe." Dr. Webster's example in disapproving of Walker's rule and pronouncing dis-as diz in only one (disease) of the above words, is followed by recent ortho["e]pists. See Disable, Disgrace, and the other words, beginning with dis-, in this Dictionary. 2. A prefix from Gr. di`s- twice. See Di-.
Dou"ble\, a. [OE. doble, duble, double, OF. doble, duble, double, F. double, fr. L. duplus, fr. the root of duo two, and perh. that of plenus full; akin to Gr. ? double. See Two, and Full, and cf. Diploma, Duple.]1. Twofold; multiplied by two; increased by its equivalent; made twice as large or as much, etc. Let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. -- 2 Kings ii. 9. Darkness and tempest make a double night. --Dryden. 2. Being in pairs; presenting two of a kind, or two in a set together; coupled. [Let] The swan, on still St. Mary's lake, Float double, swan and shadow. --Wordsworth. 3. Divided into two; acting two parts, one openly and the other secretly; equivocal; deceitful; insincere. With a double heart do they speak. -- Ps. xii. 2. 4. (Bot.) Having the petals in a flower considerably increased beyond the natural number, usually as the result of cultivation and the expense of the stamens, or stamens and pistils. The white water lily and some other plants have their blossoms naturally double. Note: Double is often used as the first part of a compound word, generally denoting two ways, or twice the number, quantity, force, etc., twofold, or having two. Double base, or Double bass (Mus.), the largest and lowest-toned instrument in the violin form; the contrabasso or violone. Double convex. See under Convex. Double counterpoint (Mus.), that species of counterpoint or composition, in which two of the parts may be inverted, by setting one of them an octave higher or lower. Double court (Lawn Tennis), a court laid out for four players, two on each side. Double dagger (Print.), a reference mark ([dag]) next to the dagger ([dagger]) in order; a diesis. Double drum (Mus.), a large drum that is beaten at both ends. Double eagle, a gold coin of the United States having the value of 20 dollars. Double entry. See under Bookkeeping. Double floor (Arch.), a floor in which binding joists support flooring joists above and ceiling joists below. See Illust. of Double-framed floor. Double flower. See Double, a., 4. Double-framed floor (Arch.), a double floor having girders into which the binding joists are framed. Double fugue (Mus.), a fugue on two subjects. Double letter. (a) (Print.) Two letters on one shank; a ligature. (b) A mail requiring double postage. Double note (Mus.), a note of double the length of the semibreve; a breve. See Breve. Double octave (Mus.), an interval composed of two octaves, or fifteen notes, in diatonic progression; a fifteenth. Double pica. See under Pica. Double play (Baseball), a play by which two players are put out at the same time. Double plea (Law), a plea alleging several matters in answer to the declaration, where either of such matters alone would be a sufficient bar to the action. --Stephen. Double point (Geom.), a point of a curve at which two branches cross each other. Conjugate or isolated points of a curve are called double points, since they possess most of the properties of double points (see Conjugate). They are also called acnodes, and those points where the branches of the curve really cross are called crunodes. The extremity of a cusp is also a double point. Double quarrel. (Eccl. Law) See Duplex querela, under Duplex. Double refraction. (Opt.) See Refraction. Double salt. (Chem.) (a) A mixed salt of any polybasic acid which has been saturated by different bases or basic radicals, as the double carbonate of sodium and potassium, NaKCO3.6H2O. (b) A molecular combination of two distinct salts, as common alum, which consists of the sulphate of aluminium, and the sulphate of potassium or ammonium. Double shuffle, a low, noisy dance. Double standard (Polit. Econ.), a double standard of monetary values; i. e., a gold standard and a silver standard, both of which are made legal tender. Double star (Astron.), two stars so near to each other as to be seen separate only by means of a telescope. Such stars may be only optically near to each other, or may be physically connected so that they revolve round their common center of gravity, and in the latter case are called also binary stars. Double time (Mil.). Same as Double-quick. Double window, a window having two sets of glazed sashes with an air space between them.
Doz"en\, n.; pl. Dozen (before another noun), Dozens. [OE. doseine, dosein, OF. doseine, F. douzaine, fr. douze twelve, fr. L. duodecim; duo two + decem ten. See Two, Ten, and cf. Duodecimal.]1. A collection of twelve objects; a tale or set of twelve; with or without of before the substantive which follows. "Some six or seven dozen of Scots." "A dozen of shirts to your back." "A dozen sons." "Half a dozen friends." --Shak. 2. An indefinite small number. --Milton. A baker's dozen, thirteen; -- called also a long dozen.
Du"al\, a. [L. dualis, fr. duo two. See Two.] Expressing, or consisting of, the number two; belonging to two; as, the dual number of nouns, etc., in Greek. Here you have one half of our dual truth. --Tyndall.
Du"bi*ous\, a. [L. dubius, dubiosus, fr. duo two. See Two, and cf. Doubt.]1. Doubtful or not settled in opinion; being in doubt; wavering or fluctuating; undetermined. "Dubious policy." --Sir T. Scott. A dubious, agitated state of mind. --Thackeray. 2. Occasioning doubt; not clear, or obvious; equivocal; questionable; doubtful; as, a dubious answer. Wiping the dingy shirt with a still more dubious pocket handkerchief. --Thackeray. 3. Of uncertain event or issue; as, in dubious battle. Syn: Doubtful; doubting; unsettled; undetermined; equivocal; uncertain. Cf. Doubtful.
Du"el\, n. [It. duello, fr. L. duellum, orig., a contest between two, which passed into the common form bellum war, fr. duo two: cf. F. duel. See Bellicose, Two, and cf. Duello.] A combat between two persons, fought with deadly weapons, by agreement. It usually arises from an injury done or an affront given by one to the other. Trial by duel (Old Law), a combat between two persons for proving a cause; trial by battel.
Du"plex\, a. [L., fr. duo two + plicare to fold. See Two, and Complex.] Double; twofold. Duplex escapement, a peculiar kind of watch escapement, in which the scape-wheel has two sets of teeth. See Escapement. Duplex lathe, one for turning off, screwing, and surfacing, by means of two cutting tools, on opposite sides of the piece operated upon. Duplex pumping engine, a steam pump in which two steam cylinders are placed side by side, one operating the valves of the other. Duplex querela [L., double complaint] (Eccl. Law), a complaint in the nature of an appeal from the ordinary to his immediate superior, as from a bishop to an archbishop. --Mozley & W. Duplex telegraphy, a system of telegraphy for sending two messages over the same wire simultaneously. Duplex watch, one with a duplex escapement.
Twain\, a. & n. [OE. twein, tweien, tweyne, AS. tw[=e]gen, masc. See Two.] Two; -- nearly obsolete in common discourse, but used in poetry and burlesque. "Children twain." --Chaucer. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. --Matt. v. 41. In twain, in halves; into two parts; asunder. When old winder split the rocks in twain. --Dryden. Twain cloud. (Meteor.) Same as Cumulo-stratus.
Twelve\, a. [OE. twelve, twelf, AS. twelf; akin to OFries. twelf, twelef, twilif, OS. twelif, D. twaalf, G. zw["o]lf, OHG. zwelif, Icel. t?lf, Sw. tolf, Dan. tolv, Goth. twalif, from the root of E. two + the same element as in the second part of E. eleven. See Two, and Eleven.] One more that eleven; two and ten; twice six; a dozen. Twelve-men's morris. See the Note under Morris. Twelve Tables. (Rom. Antiq.) See under Table.
Twen"ty\, a. [OE. twenty, AS. tw?ntig, twentig; akin to OFris. twintich, OS. tw?ntig, D. & LG. twintig, OHG. zweinzug, G. zwanzig, Goth. twai tigjis; that is, two tens. See Twain, Two, and Ten.]1. One more that nineteen; twice; as, twenty men. 2. An indefinite number more or less that twenty. --Shak. Maximilian, upon twenty respects, could not have been the man. --Bacon.
Twice\, adv. [OE. twies (where the s is the adverbial ending; see -wards), twie, AS. twiges, twiwa; akin to twi- (in comp.) two, G. zwie-, OHG. zwi-, Icel. tv[=i]-, L. bi-, Gr. ?, Skr. dvi-, and E. two. See Two.]1. Two times; once and again. He twice essayed to cast his son in gold. --Dryden. 2. Doubly; in twofold quantity or degree; as, twice the sum; he is twice as fortunate as his neighbor. Note: Twice is used in the formation of compounds, mostly self-explaining; as, twice-horn, twice-conquered, twice-planted, twice-told, and the like.
Twin\, a. [OE. twin double, AS. getwinne two and two, pl., twins; akin to D. tweeling a twin, G. zwilling, OHG. zwiniling, Icel. tvennr, tvinnr, two and two, twin, and to AS. twi- two. See Twice, Two.]1. Being one of two born at a birth; as, a twin brother or sister. 2. Being one of a pair much resembling one another; standing the relation of a twin to something else; -- often followed by to or with. --Shak. 3. (Bot.) Double; consisting of two similar and corresponding parts. 4. (Crystallog.) Composed of parts united according to some definite law of twinning. See Twin, n., 4. Twin boat, or Twin ship (Naut.), a vessel whose deck and upper works rest on two parallel hulls. Twin crystal. See Twin, n., 4. Twin flower (Bot.), a delicate evergreen plant (Linn[ae]a borealis) of northern climates, which has pretty, fragrant, pendulous flowers borne in pairs on a slender stalk. Twin-screw steamer, a steam vessel propelled by two screws, one on either side of the plane of the keel.
Twist\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Twisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Twisting.] [OE. twisten, AS. twist a rope, as made of two (twisted) strands, fr. twi- two; akin to D. twist a quarrel, dissension, G. zwist, Dan. & Sw. tvist, Icel. twistr the deuce in cards, tvistr distressed. See Twice, Two.]1. To contort; to writhe; to complicate; to crook spirally; to convolve. Twist it into a serpentine form. --Pope. 2. Hence, to turn from the true form or meaning; to pervert; as, to twist a passage cited from an author. 3. To distort, as a solid body, by turning one part relatively to another about an axis passing through both; to subject to torsion; as, to twist a shaft. 4. To wreathe; to wind; to encircle; to unite by intertexture of parts. "Longing to twist bays with that ivy." --Waller. There are pillars of smoke twisted about wreaths of flame. --T. Burnet. 5. To wind into; to insinuate; -- used reflexively; as, avarice twists itself into all human concerns. 6. To unite by winding one thread, strand, or other flexible substance, round another; to form by convolution, or winding separate things round each other; as, to twist yarn or thread. --Shak. 7. Hence, to form as if by winding one part around another; to wreathe; to make up. Was it not to this end That thou began'st to twist so fine a story? --Shak. 8. To form into a thread from many fine filaments; as, to twist wool or cotton.
Two\ (t[=oo]), a. [OE. two, twa, properly fem. & neut., twei, twein, tweien, properly masc. (whence E. twain), AS. tw[=a], fem. & neut., tw[=e]gen, masc., t[=u], neut.; akin to OFries. tw[=e]ne, masc., tw[=a], fem. & neut., OS. tw[=e]ne, masc., tw[=a], fem., tw[=e], neut., D. twee, OHG. zw[=e]ne, zw[=o], zwei, G. zwei, Icel. tveir, tv[ae]r, tvau, Sw. tv[*a], Dan. to, Goth. twai, tw[=o]s, twa; Lith. du, Russ. dva, Ir. & Gael. da, W. dau, dwy, L. duo, Gr. dy`o, Skr. dva. [root]300. Cf. Balance, Barouche, Between, Bi-, Combine, Deuce two in cards, Double, Doubt, Dozen, Dual, Duet, Dyad, Twain, Twelve, Twenty, Twice, Twilight, Twig, Twine, n., Twist.] One and one; twice one. "Two great lights." --Gen. i. 16. "Two black clouds." --Milton. Note: Two is often joined with other words, forming compounds signifying divided into, consisting of, or having, two parts, divisions, organs, or the like; as two-bladed, two-celled, two-eared, two-flowered, twohand, two-headed, two-horse, two-leafed or two-leaved, two-legged, two-lobed, two-masted, two-named, two-part, two-petaled, two-pronged, two-seeded, two-sided, two-story, two-stringed, two-foothed, two-valved, two-winged, and the like. One or two, a phrase often used indefinitely for a small number.
Two\, n. 1. The sum of one and one; the number next greater than one, and next less than three; two units or objects. 2. A symbol representing two units, as 2, II., or ii. In two, asunder; into parts; in halves; in twain; as, cut in two.
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