5. No little wound
of the kind ever came to him but what he
disclosed it at once.—TROLLOPE.
6. They are not
so distant from the camp of Saladin but what
they might be in a moment
surprised.—SCOTT.
PREPOSITIONS.
458. As to the placing of a preposition after its object in certain cases, see Sec. 305.
[Sidenote: Between and among.]
459. In the primary meaning of between and among there is a sharp distinction, as already seen in Sec. 313; but in Modern English the difference is not so marked.
Between is used most often with two things only, but still it is frequently used in speaking of several objects, some relation or connection between two at a time being implied.
Among is used in the same way as amid (though not with exactly the same meaning), several objects being spoken of in the aggregate, no separation or division by twos being implied.
Examples of the distinctive use of the two words:—
[Sidenote: Two things.]
The contentions that
arise between the parson and the
squire.—ADDISON.
We reckoned the improvements
of the art of war among the
triumphs of science.—EMERSON.
Examples of the looser use of between:—
[Sidenote: A number of things.]
Natural objects affect
us by the laws of that connection which
Providence has established
between certain motions of
bodies.—BURKE.
Hence the differences
between men in natural endowment are
insignificant in comparison
with their common wealth.—EMERSON.
They maintain a good
correspondence between those wealthy
societies of men that
are divided from one another by seas and
oceans.—ADDISON.
Looking up at its deep-pointed
porches and the dark places
between their
pillars where there were statues once.—RUSKIN
What have I, a soldier
of the Cross, to do with recollections of
war betwixt Christian
nations?—SCOTT.
[Sidenote: Two groups or one and a group.]
Also between may express relation or connection in speaking of two groups of objects, or one object and a group; as,—
A council of war is
going on beside the watch fire, between the
three adventurers and
the faithful Yeo.—KINGSLEY.
The great distinction between teachers sacred or literary,—between poets like Herbert and poets like Pope,—between philosophers like Spinoza, Kant, and Coleridge, and philosophers like Locke, Paley, Mackintosh, and Stewart, etc. —EMERSON.
460. Certain words are followed by particular prepositions.