a-twainadv.
/əˈtweɪn/ archaic.
1. In or into two parts; in two.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > two > division into two > [adverb] > in or into two
a-twoc885
a-twina1300
a-twain1377
dichotomously1751
dichotomically1843
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. vii. 116 And pieres for pure tene pulled it atweyne.
c1485 Digby Myst. (1882) i. 540 A sharpe Sward of Sorowe shall cleve hir hert atweyn.
1634 A. Huish Hymn Now earth's black mantle's cut atwaine.
1870 W. Morris Earthly Paradise: Pt. III 344 Upon a stone the ring smote, and atwain It broke.
2. Away from each other, asunder. Cf. atwin v.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > [adverb] > apart or asunder
sundereOE
asunderOE
asunderOE
a-twoc1270
a-twin1303
in sundera1387
serea1400
disjointc1430
sunderwisec1440
bysondre1496
apart1608
a-twain1870
1870 W. Morris Earthly Paradise: Pt. III 74 This bitter morn That joy and me atwain hath torn.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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adv.1377