ENGLISH
REFERENCE

between

adv. place
A2 Elementary Oxford US //bitˈwin// UK //bɪtwˈiːn// be·tween General-service

adv. in the space or time that separates two things. You use this when you are talking about being in the middle of two points.

adv. in or into an intervening space, time, or position. Often used to describe a middle point between two distinct limits or objects.


SIMPLE

The two houses are far apart with a small garden between.

CONTEXTUAL

The train stops at London and Edinburgh, but it does not stop anywhere between.

COMPLEX

The curtains were slightly parted, and a thin sliver of light shone through the gap between.

Synonyms
Origin

PIE word *dwóh₁ From Middle English betwene, from Old English betwēonum (“between, among”, dative plural, literally “by the two, near both”), from Proto-Germanic bi- (“be-”) + twīhnaz (“two each”), corresponding to be- + twain. Cognate with Scots between (“between”), Scots atween (“between”), Gothic 𐍄𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌷𐌽𐌰𐌹 (tweihnai, “two each”), Old English betweoh (“between”), Old English twinn (“double, twofold”). More at betwixt, twin. More distantly related to Ancient Greek διά (diá, “through, across, by, over”) whence English dia- (“through, across, between”). For the meaning development also compare with Mongolian хооронд (xoorond, “between”), connected with Mongolian хоёр (xojor, “two”).

Usage

When used as an adverb, it does not take a following object; if an object follows, the word functions as a preposition.

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