Middle English Dictionary Entry

bōthe num. (as n., adj., & conj.)
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Entry Info

Forms bōthe num. (as n., adj., & conj.) Also boithe, (N) bathe, baith; bothen, bothin, bathen; bethe, beoð. Gen. bōthere, bāþre, bāther, baiþer; bẹ̄there, beither(e; bōthes, bōthen(s, bothins; botheres.
Etymology From OE phrase bā þā both these (cp. OFris. bēthe, OHG beide, OI bāþir & Goth. bans þans). Vrr. beither, bethere and forms in -en are blended with the synonyms beien, beier, q.v. under bō num.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

Note: Cp. bō.
1a.
As noun: Two together, both; -- in various constructions: (a) alone; (b) the two of them; the bothe; (c) both here (theire) hedes, the heads of both of them; etc.; (d) here bother (baþre, bothe, bothes, botheres, bothen, bothins), of both of them.
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1b.
Each of two; ~ other, each other.
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2a.
As adj.: both; -- in various positions: (a) the parties (..) bothe, etc.; (b) bothe sides, etc.; (c) bothe the laues, etc.; (d) the bothe parties, etc.; (e) bothe his hondes, etc.; (f) his bothe eies etc.; (g) bothe two his hondes, etc.
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2b.
Either (of two).
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3.
Accompanying a personal or anaphoric pronoun: we (thei) bothe, we (they) both, both of us (them); etc.; -- in various positions: (a) we (thei)..bothe; us (hem)..bothe; etc.; (b) bothe we (thei), etc.; (c) we (thei) bothe, etc.; (d) we (..) bothe two, etc.; (e) we (..) bothe togider (in fere).
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4.
As a correlative conjunction: bothe..and..; ..and..bothe; -- (a) joining two (or more) nouns, numerals, or pronouns; (b) joining adjs. and ppls.; (c) joining advs.; (d) joining prepositional phrases; (e) joining verbs; (f) joining clauses.
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