'twere

See also: twere and t'were

English

Pronunciation

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Contraction

'twere

1. (archaic) It were

   I had been glad if 'twere us but not them.

   You drink wine as 'twere water!

   • c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:

     To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself.

   • 1885–1888, Richard F[rancis] Burton, transl. and editor, “Night 17”, in A Plain and Literal Translation of the Arabian Nights’ Entertainments, now Entituled The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night […], Shammar edition, volume (please specify the volume), [London]: […] Burton Club […], →OCLC:

     Then he came down rejoicing and said, "I have seen what seemeth to be a city as 'twere a pigeon."

See also

• 'twas

Anagrams

• Ewert, rewet, tweer