a-two, advb. phr. arch. and dial.
(əˈtuː)
Forms: 1 on t{uacu}, on twá, 3–4 atuo, 4–5 atwoo, 4–6 a to, ato, 5 o-two, 6 atoo, 3– atwo, a-two.
[OE. on t{uacu}, on twá, in two: see a prep.1 and two numeral a. While a-twain is only a literary archaism, a-two is also in modern dialects; the regular prose form is in two.]
1. In or into two parts; a-twain. arch.
| c 885 K. ælfred Oros. i. x. §3 H{iacu}e heora here on t{uacu} [v.r. on twá] todǽldon. 1297 R. Glouc. 375 Rychard..brec þer hys necke atuo. c 1420 Chron. Vilod. 862 Alle þe gables of the shippe þey broston a to. 1605 Camden Rem. (1637) 291 A mouse in time may bite atwo a cable. 1876 Morris Sigurd i. 49 Sawed Sigmund..till the stone was cleft atwo. |
† 2. Away from each other, apart, asunder. Obs.
| c 1270 Assumpcion 263 Sithen we ben parted atwo. c 1425 Seven Sages (P.) 3053 Thay token leve and wente o-two. c 1450 Lonelich Grail xv. 604 Kysseth me er that we now departen atwo. |