3 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Both \Both\, a. or pron. [OE. bothe, ba?e, fr. Icel. b[=a]?ir;
akin to Dan. baade, Sw. b[*a]da, Goth. baj??s, OHG. beid?,
b?d?, G. & D. beide, also AS. begen, b[=a], b?, Goth. bai,
and Gr. ?, L. ambo, Lith. ab[`a], OSlav. oba, Skr. ubha.
[root]310. Cf. {Amb}-.]
The one and the other; the two; the pair, without exception
of either.
Note: 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.
Note: It frequently stands as a pronoun.
She alone is heir to both of us. --Shak.
Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto
Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.
--Gen. xxi.
27.
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.
--Bolingbroke.
Note: It is often used in apposition with nouns or pronouns.
Thy weal and woe are both of them extremes.
--Shak.
This said, they both betook them several ways.
--Milton.
Note: Both now always precedes any other attributive words;
as, both their armies; both our eyes.
Note: 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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Both \Both\, conj.
As well; not only; equally.
Note: Both precedes the first of two co["o]rdinate 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
co["o]rdinate words, connected by and expressed or
understood.
To judge both quick and dead. --Milton.
A masterpiece both for argument and style.
--Goldsmith.
To whom bothe heven and erthe and see is sene.
--Chaucer.
Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound.
--Goldsmith.
He prayeth well who loveth well Both man and bird
and beast. --Coleridge.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
both
adj : (used with count nouns) two considered together; the two;
"both girls are pretty" [syn: {both(a)}]