Middle English Dictionary Entry
swich conj.
Entry Info
| Forms | swich conj. Also (early SWM) sulch. |
| Etymology | OE swilce, swylce, swelce, suoelce conj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: For other forms see swich adj.
1.
(a) Introducing a clause: as, such as; that mete ~, ?such meat as [could also be construed as rel.pron.; cp. swich pron.3.]; (b) introducing a clause or prep. phrase: as if; so eile (blak, hard) ~, as offensive (black, hard) as if.
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)60/36 : Ne clypeð he him þa to þe heom sylfe rihtwise telleð, swylce þa wæron þe, [etc.].
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)124/14-15 : Iu ic wæs swylc þu nu eart, & ȝyt þu iwurðæst swulc ic nu eom.
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)120 : Al his lif scal bon suilch boð his endinge.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)9459 : Ich wulle beon..swulc [Otho: ase] him is Brutael.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)57/28 : Sume libbeð unorneliche..naht for godes luue, ac swilch hit hem bie icynde.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1538 : Rebecca..made..ðat mete Swilc ghe wiste he wulde eten.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3620 : Ðis folc..Offreden him siluer and golde And oðer metal, swilc he wolde.
b
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1104 : Ætywdan feower circulas to þam mid dæge onbutan þære sunnan..swylce hi gemette wæron.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)34/21 : Þæt Judeisce folc wæs up ahafen swylce þurh rihtwisnysse þære ealden æ, & on þære heo sylfe heredon.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)64/9 : Se þe eow dereð, hit byð me swa egle swylce he reppe mines eagen seo.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)113/16 : Twegen ængles flugen swylce þurh ane dure into þære heofone.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B)175/15 : Þeos wyrt..is..ȝreatum bogum & swiðe smale leafon, swilce heo ma fexede si.
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)31/15 : Hwile he riþaþ, swylce he on dueorge sy.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)64/4 : His mod is ablend swylc he blind ȝeboren beo.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)26/1 : Ða wearð hit swa heard swylce hit stælen wære.
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.Pentec.(Lamb 487)91 : Þa iweorden alle þos ilefede men swulche hi alle hefden ane heorte.
- a1225(OE) Vsp.A.Hom.Init.Creat.(Vsp A.22)227 : Com se deofel to har anlicnesse..and to mannen sprece swice hi godes were.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1533 : Þe king Leir iwerðe swa blac swlch hit a blac cloð weoren.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2038 : He liððe ȝeon þeos leoden sulch [Otho: ase] hit an liun were.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3233 : He ferde on his stede sulc [Otho: alse] he walde awede.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)81/7 : Ðe spekeð an aiðer half, swilche ȝie here beire friend wære.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)566 : Þu gredest suich þu bo wod.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)976 : Solde euchmon wonie & grede Riȝt suich [Jes-O: such] hi weren un lede?
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)371 : Hi seyen..Iosep sitten in halle such hit were a king.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED. (Note form sulc, for example, which is found under swich adj. Both the ME adjective and conjunction each has an OE etymon.)--per MLL