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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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