Between ourselves

Between Be*tween", prep. [OE. bytwene, bitweonen, AS. betwe['o]nan, betwe['o]num; prefix be- by + a form fr. AS. tw[=a] two, akin to Goth. tweihnai two apiece. See {Twain}, and cf. {Atween}, {Betwixt}.] 1. In the space which separates; betwixt; as, New York is between Boston and Philadelphia. [1913 Webster]

2. Used in expressing motion from one body or place to another; from one to another of two. [1913 Webster]

If things should go so between them. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

3. Belonging in common to two; shared by both. [1913 Webster]

Castor and Pollux with only one soul between them. --Locke. [1913 Webster]

4. Belonging to, or participated in by, two, and involving reciprocal action or affecting their mutual relation; as, opposition between science and religion. [1913 Webster]

An intestine struggle, open or secret, between authority and liberty. --Hume. [1913 Webster]

5. With relation to two, as involved in an act or attribute of which another is the agent or subject; as, to judge between or to choose between courses; to distinguish between you and me; to mediate between nations. [1913 Webster]

6. In intermediate relation to, in respect to time, quantity, or degree; as, between nine and ten o'clock. [1913 Webster]

{Between decks}, the space, or in the space, between the decks of a vessel.

{Between ourselves}, {Between you and me}, {Between themselves}, in confidence; with the understanding that the matter is not to be communicated to others. [1913 Webster]

Syn: {Between}, {Among}.

Usage: Between etymologically indicates only two; as, a quarrel between two men or two nations; to be between two fires, etc. It is however extended to more than two in expressing a certain relation.

I . . . hope that between public business, improving studies, and domestic pleasures, neither melancholy nor caprice will find any place for entrance. --Johnson. [1913 Webster] Among implies a mass or collection of things or persons, and always supposes more than two; as, the prize money was equally divided among the ship's crew. [1913 Webster]