swelc

Old English

Alternative forms

• swilċ, swylċ

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *swalīkaz. Cognate with Old Frisian selik, Old Saxon sulik, Old Dutch sulik, Old High German sulīh, Old Norse slíkr, Gothic 𐍃𐍅𐌰𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌺𐍃 (swaleiks). Equivalent to swā +‎ -līċ.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /swelt͡ʃ/, [sweɫt͡ʃ]

Pronoun

swelċ

1. such; like that, that kind of
   • The Legend of St. Andrew

     Ġēa hlāford, and hwæt ġif iċ swelcne mann ġemēte? Hwelċe mēde sċeal iċ him behātan?

     Yes lord, and what if I find someone like that? What kind of reward should I promise them?

   • c. 996, Ælfric, Lives of Saints

     Þæt wīf wundrode þæs wynsuman brǣðes, and cwæþ þæt hēo nǣfre ǣr nāht swelċes ne ġestunce.

     The woman was amazed at the delightful scent, and said she'd never smelled anything like it before.

Derived terms

• swelċe

See also

• þyslīċ (“like this/this kind of”)