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