a. Having two divisions or branches like the prongs of a fork; bifurcate; dichotomous. Also fig.

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1579.  Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 107. This two forked reason.

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1617.  Moryson, Itin., I. 95. Towards the West side of the City is a large market place twoforked.

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1638.  Featly, Strict. Lyndom., II. 46. A dilemma or two-forked argument.

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c. 1789.  Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), III. 440/2. Caulis dichotomus, a dichotomous or two-forked stem.

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1793.  Martyn, Lang. Bot., s.v., Two forked, see Dichotomous. [Hence in Webster (1828), and in later Dicts.]

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