twain

[tweɪn]

twain Definition

  • 1two items of the same kind
  • 2two people or things considered together

Using twain: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "twain" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The twain were inseparable friends.

  • Example

    He was torn between the twain.

  • Example

    The book is divided into two parts, the twain being quite different in tone and style.

twain Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for twain

Phrases with twain

  • used to say that two things, ideas, or people are completely different and cannot exist together

    Example

    He's a conservative, and she's a liberal, and never the twain shall meet.

  • in a state of uncertainty or indecision, neither one thing nor the other

    Example

    She felt betwixt and between, unsure of what to do next.

  • a point at which two people or groups no longer have anything in common and their paths diverge

    Example

    After years of working together, the twain experienced a parting of the ways and went their separate directions.

Origins of twain

Old English 'twēgen', related to Dutch 'tween' and German 'zween'

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Summary: twain in Brief

The term 'twain' [tweɪn] refers to two items or people of the same kind. It can be used to describe inseparable friends, as in 'The twain were inseparable friends,' or to denote a difficult choice between two options, as in 'He was torn between the twain.' The phrase 'never the twain shall meet' emphasizes the irreconcilable differences between two things or people.