Both

Both Both, a. or pron. [OE. bothe, ba?e, fr. Icel. b[=a]?ir; akin to Dan. baade, Sw. b[*a]da, Goth. baj??s, OHG. beid?, b?d?, G. & D. beide, also AS. begen, b[=a], b?, Goth. bai, and Gr. ?, L. ambo, Lith. ab[`a], OSlav. oba, Skr. ubha. [root]310. Cf. {Amb}-.] The one and the other; the two; the pair, without exception of either. [1913 Webster]

Note: 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]

Note: 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]

Note: 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]

Note: Both now always precedes any other attributive words; as, both their armies; both our eyes. [1913 Webster]

Note: 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]