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 York is
between Boston and Philadelphia.
2. Used in expressing motion from one body or place to
another; from one to another of two.
If things should go so between them. --Bacon.
3. Belonging in common to two; shared by both.
Castor and Pollux with only one soul between them.
--Locke.
4. Belonging to, or participated in by, two, and involving
reciprocal action or affecting their mutual relation; as,
opposition between science and religion.
An intestine struggle, open or secret, between
authority and liberty. --Hume.
5. With relation to two, as involved in an act or attribute
of which another is the agent or subject; as, to judge
between or to choose between courses; to distinguish
between you and me; to mediate between nations.
6. In intermediate relation to, in respect to time, quantity,
or degree; as, between nine and ten o'clock.
Between decks, the space, or in the space, between the
decks of a vessel.
Between ourselves, Between you and me, Between
themselves, in confidence; with the understanding that the
matter is not to be communicated to others.
Syn: Between, Among.
Usage: Between etymologically indicates only two; as, a
quarrel between two men or two nations; to be between
two fires, etc. It is however extended to more than
two in expressing a certain relation.
I . . . hope that between public business,
improving studies, and domestic pleasures,
neither melancholy nor caprice will find any
place for entrance. --Johnson.
Among implies a mass or collection of things or
persons, and always supposes more than two; as, the
prize money was equally divided among the ship's crew.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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