a. or pron. [ OE. bothe, baþe, fr. Icel. bāðir; akin to Dan. baade, Sw. båda, Goth. bajōþs, OHG. beidē, bēdē, G. & D. beide, also AS. begen, bā, bū, Goth. bai, and Gr. 'a`mfw, L. ambo, Lith. abà, OSlav. oba, Skr. ubha. √310. Cf. Amb-. ] The one and the other; the two; the pair, without exception of either. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ] It frequently stands as a pronoun. [ 1913 Webster ] She alone is heir to both of us. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant. Gen. xxi. 27. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] It is often used in apposition with nouns or pronouns. [ 1913 Webster ] Thy weal and woe are both of them extremes. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] This said, they both betook them several ways. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] Both now always precedes any other attributive words; as, both their armies; both our eyes. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] | 
