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Definition of twain

twain

/tweɪn/
twain
Plural:twains
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twain Lexical Profile

twain Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The number two; a pair or group of two people or things (archaic or literary).

Example

"The lightning bolt struck the ancient oak and cleft its massive trunk in twain."

Synonyms
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• adjective

1

Being two in number (archaic or literary, often placed after the noun).

Example

"The ancient ballad tells of sisters twain who wandered through the enchanted forest."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for twain

Word Nuance & Usage

Now largely archaic or literary, 'twain' survives in modern English primarily in fixed expressions such as 'in twain' (in two) and the proverb 'never the twain shall meet.'

• Rhymes for twain

• Nearby Words

tuxedoed
tvinde
twaddle
twain
twang
twangy
twat

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'twēġen', the masculine nominative and accusative form of the number two, while the modern word 'two' derives from the feminine and neuter form 'twā'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Twain. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/twain
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