adj., pron., & adv.
adj. & pron. the two, not only one (both boys; both the boys; both of the boys; the boys are both here). °Widely used with of, esp. when followed by a pronoun (e.g. both of us) or a noun implying separate rather than collective consideration, e.g. both of the boys suggests each boy rather than the two together.
adv. with equal truth in two cases (both the boy and his sister are here; are both here and hungry). both ways = each way. have it both ways alternate between two incompatible points of view to suit the needs of the moment.
[ ME f. ON b thir ]