Software vs Twain - What's the difference?
software | twain |
(computing) Encoded computer instructions, usually modifiable (unless stored in some form of unalterable memory such as ROM). Compare hardware.
* 1958 , John W. Tukey, "The Teaching of Concrete Mathematics" in The American Mathematical Monthly , vol. 65, no. 1 (Jan. 1958), pp 1-9:
* 1995 , Paul Niquette, Softword: Provenance for the Word ‘Software’ :
(dated) two
* 1866 , , Before Parting , lines 1-2
* 1889 , , line 1
* 1900 , , Amor Profanus , lines 26-28
As a noun software
is software.As a proper noun twain is
.software
English
Noun
(-)- The "software " comprising the carefully planned interpretive routines, compilers, and other aspects of automative programming are at least as important to the modern electronic calculator as its "hardware" of tubes, transistors, wires, tapes and the like.
- As originally conceived, the word "software " was merely an obvious way to distinguish a program from the computer itself. A program comprised sequences of changeable instructions each having the power to command the behavior of the permanently crafted machinery, the "hardware."
Usage notes
Software'' is a mass noun (''some software'', ''a piece of software''). By non-native speakers it is sometimes erroneously treated as a countable noun (''a software'', ''some softwares ).Hyponyms
* See alsoDerived terms
* * * * * * * *See also
* application * assembly * assembler * bug * code * coding * compilation * compiler * debugging * interpreter * linking * linker * open source * patch * programming * script * utilities * warezReferences
twain
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) tweyne, tweien, twaine, from (etyl) . The word outlasted the breakdown of gender in Middle English and survived as a secondary form of (two), then especially in the cases where the numeral follows a noun. Its continuation into modern times was aided by its use in KJV, the Marriage Service, in poetry (where it's commonly used as a rhyme word), and in oral use where it is necessary to be clear that two and not "to" or "too" is meant. It could look like one of the many English words inherited from Old Norse. The modern Danish word is "tvende" (pronounced tvenne), it means both, two of a kind, etc.Numeral
(head)- But the warm twilight round us twain will never rise again.
- Bring me these twain cups of wine and water, and let us drink from the one we feel more befitting of this day.
- A month or twain to live on honeycomb
- Is pleasant;
- Oh, East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.
- […] all too soon we twain shall tread
- The bitter pastures of the dead:
- Estranged, sad spectres of the night.