betwixt

Betwixt is an adverb or preposition that is a synonym of between, often used to lend an old-fashioned feel to speech and writing. It can be used in various contexts, such as to describe the location of something or someone between two other things or people. The phrase "betwixt and between" means being in the middle or neither one thing nor the other. Betwixt has similar origins to between, coming from a combination of be- and related Old English roots. Both words appeared before the 12th century, but the use of betwixt declined significantly towards the end of the 1600s. Despite this, betwixt never fully disappeared and has survived, especially in the phrase "betwixt and between". Nathaniel Hawthorne frequently used betwixt in his writing, including in The Scarlet Letter. Today, betwixt is uncommon but not archaic, and is often used more purposefully than between to create a certain old-timey feel. Betwixt can be used in both formal and informal writing, as seen in examples from The Los Angeles Times and The Scarlet Letter. The word's unique feel and connotation make it a useful addition to a writer's vocabulary.