advb. phr. arch. and dial. Forms: 1 on tú, on twá, 3–4 atuo, 4–5 atwoo, 4–6 a to, ato, 5 o-two, 6 atoo, 3– atwo, a-two. [OE. on tú, on twá, in two: see A prep.1 and TWO. 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. Hie heora here on tú [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.
