swelce

Old English

Alternative forms

• swilċe, swylċe

Etymology

Equivalent to swelċ +‎ e.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈswel.t͡ʃe/, [ˈsweɫ.t͡ʃe]

Adverb

swelċe

1. also, likewise
2. about (approximately)
3. like, as
4. expletive: like, as it were

Conjunction

swelċe

1. (with subjunctive) like

   Þonne weorold endaþ, þonne biþ hit swelċe hēo nǣfre nǣre.

   When the world ends, it will be like it never existed.

   • late 9th century, translation of Orosius' History Against the Pagans

     Man ġeseah swelċe sē heofon burne.

     It looked like the sky was on fire.

   • late 9th century, translation of Bede's Ecclesiastical History

     Man ġeseah swelċe ān fȳren hring norðan cōme.

     It looked like a ring of fire was coming from the north.

   • Blickling Homilies, "The Dedication of St. Michael's Church"

     Þā līeġeta flugon swelċe fȳrena strǣla.

     The lightning bolts fell like flaming arrows.

2. (with subjunctive) as if
   • c. 992, Ælfric, "The Assumption of St. John the Apostle"

     Drusiana þa ārās swilce of slǣpe āwreht, and, carfull be ðæs apostoles hæse, hām ġewende.

     Drusiana then arose as if from sleep awakened, and, mindful of the apostle's command, returned home.

   • c. 992, Ælfric, "Saint Maur, Abbot"

     Hē ārās þā ġesund, swelċe of slǣpe āwreaht, and begann tō wundrienne hū hē wurde þæder ġebrōht.

     Then he got up safe and sound, as if woken from sleep, and began to wonder how he got there.

   • c. 992, Ælfric, "The Assumption of St. John the Apostle"

     Ða het se apostol ða bære settan, and cwæð, "Min Drihten, Hælend Crist! Arære ðe, Drusiana; aris, and ġecyrr hām, and gearca ús gereordunge on þinum hūse." Drusiana þa arás swilce of slæpe awreht, and, carfull be ðæs apostoles hæse, hām gewende.

     Then the apostle bade them set down the bier, and said, "My Lord, Jesus Christ! Raise thee, Drusiana; arise, and return home, and prepare refection for us in thy house." Drusiana then arose as if from sleep awakened, and, mindful of the apostle's command, returned home.

   • c. 1005, Ælfric's Letter to Sigeweard

     Hū mæġ sē mann wel faran þe his mōd āwent fram eallum þissum bōcum, and biþ him swā ānwille þæt him lēofre biþ þæt hē libbe ǣfre be his āgnum dihte āsċīred fram þissum, swelċe hē ne cunne Cristes ġesetnessa?

     How can someone do well if they turn their mind from all these books [stuff that Ælfric wrote], if they're so stubborn that they would rather live their life always making their own separate judgments, as if they don't know the laws of Christ?