I. bə̇.ˈtwēn, bē.- preposition
Etymology: Middle English betwene, preposition & adverb, from Old English betwēonum, from be- + -twēonum (dative plural of an old distributive numeral akin to Gothic tweihnai two each); akin to Old English twēgen, twā, tū two — more at two
1.
a. : involving the reciprocal action of : involving as participants : jointly engaging
the job was completed between the two of them
two years of quiet talks between the three — Time
b. : shared by
there are many interrelationships, and many mutual interests, between linguistics, philosophy, and psychology — J.B.Carroll
c. : by giving a portion of the total to each of
the fortune was divided between the four grandchildren
the food was shared between three families
2.
a. : in the time interval that separates
the two days between Monday and Thursday
between bites of food, they talked to their teacher
b. : in the space that separates : betwixt
an alleyway between two tall buildings
a vacuum between two electrodes
: in the midst of : surrounded by
a lion rampant between eight crosses
c. : in intermediate relation to in respect to quantity, quality, or degree
weighing somewhere between a pound and a pound and a half
a grade between passing and failing
3.
a. : from one to the other of
air service between the two cities
b. : joining , connecting
a passageway between two rooms
c. : in common to : in the joint possession, action, or agency of
an agreement between states
there is no continuity of mood between the three books — F.A.Swinnerton
mutual understanding between the brothers
d. : separating , distinguishing : setting apart
the lines between different new media — F.L.Mott
a distinction must be drawn between the … three functions of authority — Abram Kardiner
4. : after a comparison of : in point of comparison of
there is not much to choose between the two coats
5. : in confidence restricted to
a secret between ourselves
there's nothing private between you and me — Walter de la Mare
6. : taking together the total effect of (a series of things)
between making beds, washing dishes, sewing, cleaning, and raising her children, she was kept busy
II. adverb
Etymology: Middle English betwene
1.
a. : in an intermediate position in relation to two other objects
two desks with a wastebasket between
b. : filling the space limited by two objects
two buildings with a parking area between
2. : in the interval : in intervals
two short movies with a newsreel between
dancing all the dances with very little rest between
3. : through a space limited by two objects
since he could not go around the two strolling men, he went between
III. noun
( -s )
: the time, space, state, or way between