betwixt

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sardith
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betwixt

Postby sardith » Sun May 01, 2011 12:17 am

Ok, I'll admit I was caught up in the William and Kate nuptials last week, but while most of my friends were keeping score on all the fashions, I was loving this one word that kept popping up during the ceremony: betwixt

I understand it is used in the U.S. as well, but they use it so grandly in the U.K.

Is it completely interchangeable with between?

Really doesn't matter. I think I shall try to bring it back into prominence, though I think that Californians might be too independent to budge! :wink:

Oh well,
Sardith 8)
“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”
~Mark Twain, [pen name for Samuel Clemens], American author and humorist, (1835-1910)~

bnjtokyo

Postby bnjtokyo » Mon May 02, 2011 6:16 am

The British dictionaries label it "archaic." It is defined as meaning "between" and appears to be frozen in place in the idiom "betwixt and between."

I agree that it is a nice word. Maybe, just betwixt you and me, we can use it more often.

sardith
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Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:21 am
Location: Central California

betwixt

Postby sardith » Mon May 02, 2011 12:41 pm

It's a deal, bnjtokyo!

But, just betwixt you and me, how're you doing over there betwixt all of the aftershocks and Techtonic plate settling?

Sardith :)
“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”
~Mark Twain, [pen name for Samuel Clemens], American author and humorist, (1835-1910)~

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Slava
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Postby Slava » Thu May 05, 2011 8:23 pm

Aye, this word is almost exclusively met in the phrase betwixt and between. Though, as sardith uses it, it works.

I can see other such ways to use it in a modern sense, but not as a universal replacement for between. I just can't see saying something like, "My house is on the left, betwixt Oak and Maxwell."
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.

sardith
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Posts: 267
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:21 am
Location: Central California

betwixt

Postby sardith » Thu May 05, 2011 11:02 pm

It just sounds so wonderful tripping off the British tongue, though. 8)

I guess I'll just wait for the next Royal wedding! :wink:

Sardith :D

p.s. The one saying I think would be improved:
'caught betwixt a rock and a hard place'
“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”
~Mark Twain, [pen name for Samuel Clemens], American author and humorist, (1835-1910)~

Stargzer
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Re: betwixt

Postby Stargzer » Thu May 26, 2011 12:55 am

...
p.s. The one saying I think would be improved:
'caught betwixt a rock and a hard place'
During their war many years ago, one local Baltimore DJ said that Iran was a country caught between Iraq and a hard place ...
Regards//Larry

"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
-- Attributed to Richard Henry Lee


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