swich

Middle English

Alternative forms

• such, swilch, sweche, swuch, swulch
• zuiche, zueche (Kent)

Etymology

From Old English swilċ, late variant of swylc, swelċ. For the loss of /l/, compare ech, which.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /swit͡ʃ/

Adjective

swich

1. such
   • 1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “Here Bygynneth the Book of the Tales of Caunt́burẏ”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 2, recto:

     Whan that Auerill w^t his shoures soote / The droghte of march hath ꝑced to the roote / And bathed euery veyne in swich lycour / Of which v̄tu engendred is the flour […]

     When that April, with its sweet showers / Has pierced March's drought to the root / And bathed every vein in fluid such that / with its power, the flower is made […]

Descendants

• English: such
• Middle Scots: swilk
  • Scots: sic
• Yola: zitch, zetch, zitchel, zichel

References

• “swich, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.