between

between
I. preposition Etymology: Middle English betwene, preposition & adverb, from Old English betwēonum, from be- + -twēonum (dative plural) (akin to Gothic tweihnai two each); akin to Old English twā two Date: before 12th century 1. a. by the common action of ; jointly engaging <
shared the work between the two of them
>
<
talks between the three — Time
>
b. in common to ; shared by <
divided between his four grandchildren
>
2. a. in the time, space, or interval that separates b. in intermediate relation to 3. a. from one to another of <
air service between Miami and Chicago
>
b. serving to connect or unite in a relationship (as difference, likeness, or proportion) <
a one-to-one correspondence between sets
>
c. setting apart <
the line between fact and fancy
>
4. a. in preference for one or the other of <
had no difficulty deciding between the two
>
b. in point of comparison of <
not much to choose between the two coats
>
5. in confidence restricted to <
a secret between you and me
>
6. taking together the combined effect of <
between work and family life, they have no time for hobbies
>
Usage: There is a persistent but unfounded notion that between can be used only of two items and that among must be used for more than two. Between has been used of more than two since Old English; it is especially appropriate to denote a one-to-one relationship, regardless of the number of items. It can be used when the number is unspecified <
economic cooperation between nations
>
, when more than two are enumerated <
between you and me and the lamppost
>
<
partitioned between Austria, Prussia, and Russia — Nathaniel Benchley
>
, and even when only one item is mentioned (but repetition is implied) <
pausing between every sentence to rap the floor — George Eliot
>
. Among is more appropriate where the emphasis is on distribution rather than individual relationships <
discontent among the peasants
>
. When among is automatically chosen for more than two, English idiom may be strained <
a worthy book that nevertheless falls among many stools — John Simon
>
<
the author alternates among mod slang, clichés and quotes from literary giants — A. H. Johnston
>
. II. adverb Date: before 12th century in an intermediate space or interval

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • between — 1. general. Between is an adverb (houses with spaces between) and a preposition (houses with spaces between them). We are concerned here with between as a preposition. 2. between and among. Many people, and usage guides, cling to the idea… …   Modern English usage

  • Between — Be*tween , prep. [OE. bytwene, bitweonen, AS. betwe[ o]nan, betwe[ o]num; prefix be by + a form fr. AS. tw[=a] two, akin to Goth. tweihnai two apiece. See {Twain}, and cf. {Atween}, {Betwixt}.] 1. In the space which separates; betwixt; as, New… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • between — [bē twēn′, bitwēn′] prep. [ME bitwene < OE betweonum < be,BY + tweonum (dat. of * tweon); akin to Goth tweihnai, by twos, in pairs: for IE base see TWO] 1. in or through the space that separates (two things) [between the house and the… …   English World dictionary

  • between — between, among are comparable when they take as object two or more persons or things and indicate their relation (as in position, in a distribution, or in participation). Between in its basic sense applies to only two objects {between Scylla and… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • between — ► PREPOSITION & ADVERB 1) at, into, or across the space separating (two objects, places, or points). 2) in the period separating (two points in time). ► PREPOSITION 1) indicating a connection or relationship involving (two or more parties). 2) by …   English terms dictionary

  • Between C & D — (1983 1990) was a Lower East Side quarterly literary magazine edited by Joel Rose and Catherine Texier. Though a geographical reference from New York City, Between C D has also been suggested to mean between coke and dope , giving an indication… …   Wikipedia

  • between — O.E. betweonum between, among, by turns, Mercian betwinum, from bi by (see BE (Cf. be )) + tweonum dat. pl. of *tweon two each (Cf. Goth. tweih nai two each ). Between a rock and a hard place is from 1940s, originally cowboy slang. Between whi …   Etymology dictionary

  • Between — Between, GA U.S. town in Georgia Population (2000): 148 Housing Units (2000): 63 Land area (2000): 0.868533 sq. miles (2.249491 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.868533 sq. miles (2.249491 sq.… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Between, GA — U.S. town in Georgia Population (2000): 148 Housing Units (2000): 63 Land area (2000): 0.868533 sq. miles (2.249491 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.868533 sq. miles (2.249491 sq. km) FIPS code …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Between — Be*tween , n. Intermediate time or space; interval. [Poetic & R.] Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • between — index among, intermediate Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

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