prefix meaning "two," O.E.
twi-, prefix meaning "two, in two ways, twice, double," from P.Gmc.
*twi- (cf. O.Fris.
twi-, O.N.
tvi-, Du.
twee-, O.H.G.
zwi-, Ger.
zwei-), from PIE
*dwis (cf. Skt.
dvi-, Gk.
di-, Old L.
dvi-, L.
bi-, Lith.
dvi-), from
*dwo "two" (see
two). Cognate with
bi-. Older instances of it include M.E.
twinter "two years old" (1404, of cattle, sheep, etc.), reduced from O.E.
twi-wintre, and O.E.
twispræc "double or deceitful speech."
