prep. Forms: 4 twix, tuyx, 4, 6–7 Sc. tuix, 6–7 twixt, 7– ’twixt. Aphetic form of ATWIXT, BETWIXT.
13[?]. Cursor M., 3179 (Cott.). [Abraham] loked bi him tuyx þe thorns. Ibid., 22028. O fader and moder he sal be born … Bituix a man and a womman … Noght tuix a biscop and a nun.
1570. Satir. Poems Reform., xx. 51. This I will say tuix sport and play.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, II. xlviii. 206. The seede [of hyacinth] is drie in the thirde degree, yet temperate twixt heate and colde.
1611. Sir W. Mure, Misc. Poems, i. (title), Ane Conflict tuix Love and Ressoun.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., V. ii. 79. But, Oh the Noble Combat, that ’twixt Ioy and Sorrow, was fought in Paulina.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 146. All the difference … twixt him and others.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., IX. 673. In thy nocturnal rove, one moment halt, ’Twixt stage and stage.
1885–94. R. Bridges, Eros & Psyche, May xxxi. He fondly kisst her…, And peace was ’twixt them.
† b. Twixt and, until (see BETWIXT A. 3), before. Sc. and north. dial. Obs.
13[?]. Cursor M., 927 (Gött.). Þu sal bi þi bred ful dere, Tuix and þu again be gan.
1689. in Acts Parlt. Scotl. (1875), XII. 59/1. To compeir before the meetting twixt and þe 9th day of Apryle.
c. Comb.: ’twixt-brain = ’tween-brain: see ’TWEEN b.
1878. Bell & Lankester, trans. Gegenbaur’s Comp. Anat., 503. These primitive cerebral vesicles give rise to new segments…. The first is known as the Fore-brain or Prosencephalon; the next as the Twixt-brain or Thalamencephalon.
Also † Twixten (twyxten) prep. Obs. (Cf. BETWIXEN.)
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 2282. [Lear] þoughte his doughtres gyue hosebandes, & twyxten hem parten his landes.
