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
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.
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'
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.
