Edit page | Page history | Printable version

twice

1. Two times; once and again. He twice essayed to cast his son in gold. (Dryden)

2. Doubly; in twofold quantity or degree; as, twice the sum; he is twice as fortunate as his neighbor.

Twice is used in the formation of compounds, mostly self-explaining; as, twice-horn, twice-conquered, twice-planted, twice-told, and the like.

Origin: OE. Twies (where the s is the adverbial ending; see -wards), twie, AS. Twiges, twiwa; akin to twi- (in comp) two, G. Zwie-, OHG. Zwi-, Icel. Tvi-, L. Bi-, Gr, Skr. Dvi-, and E. Two. See Two.