twain
pronunciation
How to pronounce twain in British English:
UK [tweɪn]
How to pronounce twain in American English:
US [tweɪn]
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- Noun:
- two items of the same kind
Word Origin
- twain
- twain: see two
- twain
- Old English twegen "two" (masc. nominative and accusative), from Proto-Germanic *twa- "two" (see two). It corresponds to Old Frisian twene, Dutch twee, Old High German zwene, Danish tvende. The word outlasted the breakdown of gender in Middle English and survived as a secondary form of two, especially in cases where the numeral follows a noun. Its continuation into modern times was aided by its use in KJV and the Marriage Service, in poetry (where it is a useful rhyme word), and in oral use where it is necessary to be clear that two and not to or too is meant. In U.S. nautical use as "a depth of two fathoms" from 1799.
Example
- 1. Yet there is something quintessentially modern about twain .
- 2. Twain is known for his many and often funny quotes .
- 3. You certainly won 't find anything like that in the twain autobiography .
- 4. Now , the long wait to read mark twain 's autobiography is over .
- 5. Mark twain mentions large catfish in his books-those fish were likely blues .