'twixt
Definition
- Preposition (archaic or poetic):
- Between: "'twixt" is a shortened, informal form of "betwixt," which means "between." It is used in older or literary English to indicate a position in the middle of two things, or a relationship involving two parties.
Usage Examples
- (The path is situated between the river and the hill.)
- (There is no affection between the two people; they dislike each other.)
- (He stood in the space between the door and the window.)
Advanced Usage
"'twixt and 'tween": a fixed phrase meaning "in between" or "neither one nor the other."
- She felt 'twixt and 'tween, not fully committed to either option. (She felt uncertain, caught between two choices.)
"to be 'twixt the devil and the deep blue sea": an idiom meaning to be in a difficult situation with two equally bad options. (This is a variant of "between the devil and the deep blue sea.")
- He was 'twixt the devil and the deep blue sea, forced to choose between losing his job or betraying his friend. (He faced a dilemma with no good outcome.)
Variants and Related Words
Betwixt (preposition): the full, archaic form of "'twixt," meaning "between."
- Betwixt the two houses stood a tall tree. (Between the two houses, there was a tall tree.)
Between (preposition): the modern, common synonym for "'twixt."
- She sat between her parents. (She sat in the middle of her parents.)
Synonyms
- Between: in the space separating two points or things.
- Among: in the midst of (used for more than two items), though not a direct synonym.
Related Idioms
'Twixt cup and lip: an old proverb meaning that there is many a slip between the start and the finish of an undertaking.
- He thought he had won the prize, but 'twixt cup and lip, the rules changed. (He nearly succeeded, but something went wrong at the last moment.)
'Twixt the wind and the water: meaning in a vulnerable or critical position.
- The ship was hit 'twixt the wind and the water, causing it to list dangerously. (The ship was struck in a sensitive area, endangering it.)