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Etymology data from Wiktionary via Wiktextract (CC BY-SA 4.0). Chinese character data from the 說文解字, the Taiwan MOE 國語辭典簡編本 (CC BY-ND 3.0 TW) and HSK/TOCFL lists.

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English

between

/bɪˈtwiːn/
In the position or interval that separates (two things), or intermediate in quantity or degree. (See Usage notes below.)

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    Origin

    PIE word

    *dwóh₁

    From Middle English betwene, from Old English betwēonum (“between, among”, dative plural, literally “by the two, near both”), from Proto-Germanic *bi- (“be-”) + *twīhnaz (“two each”), corresponding to be- + twain. Cognate with Scots between (“between”), Scots atween (“between”), Gothic 𐍄𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌷𐌽𐌰𐌹 (tweihnai, “two each”), Old English betweoh (“between”), Old English twinn (“double, twofold”). More at betwixt, twin.

    More distantly related to Ancient Greek διά (diá, “through, across, by, over”) whence English dia- (“through, across, between”).

    For the meaning development also compare with Mongolian хооронд (xoorond, “between”), connected with Mongolian хоёр (xojor, “two”).

    From Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

    Lineage

    • inheritedMiddle Englishbetwene
      • inheritedOld Englishbetwēonum “between, among”
        • derivedProto-Germanic*bi- “be-”
          • derivedProto-Germanic*bi “near, by”
            • inheritedProto-Indo-European*h₁pi
            • inherited (ultimately)Proto-Indo-European*h₁epi “at, near”
            • derivedProto-Indo-European*leyp- “leave, remain”
          • inheritedProto-Germanic*bi “near, by”
          • derivedProto-Indo-European*glemb-
    • prefixEnglishbe- “By, near, next to, around, close to.”
      • inheritedMiddle Englishbi-
        • inheritedOld Englishbe- “be-”
        • derivedOld Englishbī- “by, near, around”
    • partEnglishtwain “two”
      • inheritedMiddle Englishtweyne
        • inheritedOld Englishtwēġen
      • inheritedMiddle Englishtwaynen

    Related: English dia-, Scots between, Scots atween, Gothic 𐍄𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌷𐌽𐌰𐌹, Old English betweoh, Old English twinn, Ancient Greek διά

    Words built on it: in between, in-between, between-time

    Meanings

    prep
    1. In the position or interval that separates (two things), or intermediate in quantity or degree. (See Usage notes below.)
    2. Done together or reciprocally.
    3. Shared in confidence.
    4. In transit from (one to the other, or connecting places).
    5. Combined (by effort or ownership).
    6. One of (representing a choice).
    noun
    1. A kind of needle, shorter than a sharp, with a small rounded eye, used for making fine stitches on heavy fabrics.

    Sources

    • Wiktionary (via Wiktextract / kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
    • Wiktionary: between