twain

\ ˈtwān

How to pronounce twain (audio)

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Definition of twain

(Entry 1 of 4)

1 : two

2 : couple, pair

twain

Definition of twain (Entry 2 of 4)

: two especially : two fathoms mark twain

twain

Definition of twain (Entry 3 of 4)

archaic

Twain

biographical name

Definition of Twain (Entry 4 of 4)

Mark — see clemens

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about twain

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Examples of twain in a Sentence

Noun I like rap and my parents like country music, and never the twain shall meet in our house.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Apparently, this was that rare case of the twain meeting, as officers went to the woman’s address and soon gave a lost reveler a ride back to Bridgewater State University. — BostonGlobe.com, "NOT YOUR AVERAGE SCHOOL DETAIL," 30 Sep. 2019 The Victorian world was cleft in twain, with men on one side, and women on the other. — Hugh Ryan, Town & Country, "Downton Abbey's Thomas Barrow and the Future of the Gay Past," 16 Sep. 2019 None of this legendary twain of body and mind seemed possible on the night of Aug. 11, 2014, not as Verlander sat crying in a tunnel between the dugout and the Tigers’ clubhouse at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. — Tom Verducci, SI.com, "How Justin Verlander Mastered the Twain of Body and Mind in HIs Mid-30s," 1 Sep. 2019 Gravitational-wave detectors work (see diagram) by splitting a laser beam in twain. — The Economist, "Gravitational astronomy proves its maturity," 22 Aug. 2019 This side in one corner, that side in the other corner and never the twain will meet, much less talk civilly. — Dave Hyde, sun-sentinel.com, "Hyde: What billionaire would Kenny Stills want closer to Trump than Steve Ross? | Commentary," 8 Aug. 2019 Ultimately, there are phone people and then there are Note people, and never the twain shall meet. — David Pierce, WSJ, "Samsung’s Galaxy Note 9 Is Crazy Powerful. Can You Handle It?," 19 Aug. 2018 But the twain do meet at the island’s golf courses, tennis courts, sailing school and beaches. — Julie Lasky, New York Times, "Shelter Island, N.Y.: A Paradise That Has Its Challenges," 16 May 2018 Almost ne’er the twain did meet — though that could soon change. — Washington Post, "Disney-Fox deal may create a new nerdy nirvana," 16 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'twain.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near twain

Twaddell hydrometer

Statistics for twain

Last Updated

12 Nov 2019

Time Traveler for twain

The first known use of twain was before the 12th century

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concealed or difficult to comprehend

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