Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Both \Both\, a. or pron. [OE. bothe, ba?e, fr. Icel. b[=a]?ir;
   akin to Dan. baade, Sw. b[*a]da, Goth. baj??s, OHG. beid?,
   b?d?, G. & D. beide, also AS. begen, b[=a], b?, Goth. bai,
   and Gr. ?, L. ambo, Lith. ab[`a], OSlav. oba, Skr. ubha.
   [root]310. Cf. {Amb}-.]
   The one and the other; the two; the pair, without exception
   of either.

   Note: It is generally used adjectively with nouns; as, both
         horses ran away; but with pronouns, and often with
         nous, it is used substantively, and followed by of.

   Note: It frequently stands as a pronoun.

               She alone is heir to both of us.   --Shak.

               Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto
               Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.
                                                  --Gen. xxi.
                                                  27.

               He will not bear the loss of his rank, because he
               can bear the loss of his estate; but he will bear
               both, because he is prepared for both.
                                                  --Bolingbroke.

   Note: It is often used in apposition with nouns or pronouns.

               Thy weal and woe are both of them extremes.
                                                  --Shak.

               This said, they both betook them several ways.
                                                  --Milton.

   Note: Both now always precedes any other attributive words;
         as, both their armies; both our eyes.

   Note: Both of is used before pronouns in the objective case;
         as, both of us, them, whom, etc.; but before
         substantives its used is colloquial, both (without of)
         being the preferred form; as, both the brothers.

Both \Both\, conj.
   As well; not only; equally.

   Note: Both precedes the first of two co["o]rdinate words or
         phrases, and is followed by and before the other, both
         . . . and . . .; as well the one as the other; not only
         this, but also that; equally the former and the latter.
         It is also sometimes followed by more than two
         co["o]rdinate words, connected by and expressed or
         understood.

               To judge both quick and dead.      --Milton.

               A masterpiece both for argument and style.
                                                  --Goldsmith.

               To whom bothe heven and erthe and see is sene.
                                                  --Chaucer.

               Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound.
                                                  --Goldsmith.

               He prayeth well who loveth well Both man and bird
               and beast.                         --Coleridge.

Source : WordNet®

both
     adj : (used with count nouns) two considered together; the two;
           "both girls are pretty" [syn: {both(a)}]