'twere

See also: twere and t'were

English

Contraction

'twere

(archaic) It were
I had been glad if 'twere us but not them.

You drink wine as 'twere water!
- c. 1606, William Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act II, Scene ii:
  To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself.
- 1885, Richard F. Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 17:
  Then he came down rejoicing and said, "I have seen what seemeth to be a city as 'twere a pigeon." Hereat we rejoiced and, ere an hour of the day had passed, the buildings showed plain in the offing and we asked the Captain, "What is the name of yonder city?" and he answered "By Allah I wot not, for I never saw it before and never sailed these seas in my life: but, since our troubles have ended in safety, remains for you only to land their with your merchandise and, if you find selling profitable, sell and make your market of what is there; and if not, we will rest here two days and provision ourselves and fare away.

See also

'twas

Anagrams

Ewert, rewet, tweer

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