▪ I.as,adv.(conj.,andrel.pron.)|æz,əz|Forms: 1–3 allswá, al-swá, (WS.1–2 ealswá). North. 2–6 alswa (alsua), 4–5 alsa, alse, 4–7 als, 4– as. Midl. 3–4 alswo, alsuo, 3–6 also, 4–6 alse, als, 3– as, (4–5 os). South. 2–3 alse, 2–4 ase, 2– as.[A worn-down form of all-so,OE.all-swá ‘wholly so, quite so, just so,’ which in its simple demonstrative use remains dissyllabic(seealso), but as a relative and antecedent has been phonetically weakened through alswá, alsa, alse, als, as, and alswá, alswo, also, alse, ase, as, to (æz). This phonetic weakening, in each of its successive stages, began with the relative sense, whence it extended to the other senses: even the weak demonstrative was reduced innorth.dial.to als, but remains also in standardEng.The correlation in ‘the colour is as bright as gold,’ where the first as is demonstrative or antecedent, and the second relative, ‘in that degree bright, in which degree gold (is bright),’ was originally expressed by so—so,OE.‘swá beorht swá gold’; but the antecedent or principal form was also strengthened by all, ‘all swá beorht swá gold’; constructions which long survived in the south, as ‘sō briht sŏ (se) gold,’ and ‘al sŏ (alse) briht sŏ (se) gold.’ The prefixed all, though originally emphatic (=altogether, quite, even), soon lost its force, and al-swá, al-so came to imply no more than the simple swá, sō. Hence, by 1200 (in the north) alswa had begun to appear in the subordinate clause likewise, ‘alswa brihht alswa gold,’ a construction soon generally adopted, though almost always with the relative in a phonetically weaker form than the antecedent,e.g.‘alswa briht alse gold, also briht alse gold, alse briȝt ase gold, als bricht as gold,’ but finally with both correlatives worn down, ‘as bright as gold.’ Alse, ase, as was even substituted as the relative, when the original swá, so remained as the antecedent, whence themod.‘not so bright as gold,’OE.ná swá beorht swá gold, 13th c. southernEng.‘nowht so briht sŏ (se) gold,’ and ‘nowht so briht alse (ase) gold.’With the wearing down of al-so to as,cf.mod.Ger.also, als, in ‘also bald als er kam’=ME.‘all-so sone als he com,’mod.‘as soon as he came.’With many common adjectives and adverbs as (als, etc.) was formerly written in combination, especially in idiomatic constructions,e.g.asmuch, aswell, asfaste, assoon, astite; relics of this survive in forasmuch, inasmuch, whereas.]The uses of as are here considered, A. in the main sentence, B. in the subordinate sentence, C. in phrases. At the end of B. are some phraseological combinations originating in ellipsis.A.In a main sentence, as Antecedent or Demonstrative Adverb.†I.With so in the relative clause. Obs.As (alswa, also, alse, als, ase){ddd}so (swa, so, se).†1.Of quantity or degree: In that degree, to such extent{ddd}(in or to which){ddd}Obs.a1000ælfricHom.in Thorpe Anal.61Seo beorhtnys is ealswá eald swá þæt fýr.c1175Lamb.Hom.157Alse raðe se he walde.1205Lay.9968Al swa longe swa þe woreld stondeð.c1300K. Alis. 395Al so ofte so he wolde.c1380Sir Ferumb. 2329Ase loude so he..miȝte? to ys men criede he there.1393Langl.P. Pl. C. viii. 232A court as cleer so þe sonne.1450Myrc 394Þenne schale þe husbonde als blyue Teche & preche so hys wyue.1532Dice Play (1850) 13Not always as well so I would wish.†2.Of quality or manner: In that way, in such wise{ddd}(in which){ddd}Obs.c1175Lamb.Hom.25Al swa he doð swa þe swica.Ibid.159Alswa se þe sunne drach up þene deu.c1200OrminDed.281And all all swa se Godes Lamb..mihhte.II.With as also in the relative clause:As (alswa, also, alsa, alse, als, ase, as){ddd}as (alswa, etc.).3.Of quantity: In that degree; to that extent{ddd}(in or to which){ddd} Expressing the Comparative of Equality: as good as gold; as wise as fair; as strong as ever; as soon as you can; and in innumerable proverbial similes, as black as jet, as brave as a lion, etc.c1175Cott.Hom.239Alse lange alse ȝé lefede &..alse longe as íc lefie.c1220Hali Meid. 5Syon[is]ase muchel on englische leodene ase heh sihðe.a1300Cursor M. 823Als fast als þai had don þat sinne.Ibid.7526Þar he stod als still os stake.c1314Guy Warw. 87Also litel als he may.c1325E.E.Allit.P. B. 984Al-so salt as ani se.c1325Cœur de L. 2524Alsoo faste As quarrel off the arweblast.1377Langl.P. Pl. B. iv. 195Als longe as owre lyf lasteth.c1386ChaucerProl.287Al so lene was his hors as is a rake.c1420Amadace xli,Als gay Als any erliche mon.c1425WyntounCron. viii. 165Alsa frely as before.1485CaxtonParis & V. (1868) 63Also sick as she was.1530SarumMan.in Maskell Mon. Rit. II. 295Alse often as thei be..required.1583StubbesAnat.Abus. ii. 10As round as a ball.1588A. KingCanisius'Catech.111Als far as apperteins to y⊇ office.1608R. ArminNest Ninn. 11He was as dead as a doore nayle.1701W. WottonHist.Rome Alex. iii. 504He was as covetous as cruel.1711SteeleSpect.No.155 ⁋5As busy as possible.1849MacaulayHist.Eng.I. 275He used it, as far as he dared.1879BlackMacleod of D. xxvi,He was as mad as a hatter about her.†4.Of quality: In that very way, in such wise{ddd}(in which){ddd}Obs.c1175Lamb.Hom.153He his sunnen undeð..alswa alse he heom haueð idon.c1230Ancr. R. 36And eft biginneð..also, ase er.1340Ayenb. 137Alsuo ase þe zoþe milde hereþ þe oþre..alsuo he blameþ him zelve.III.With relative clause wanting.5.In qualifications of degree (cf.3) the relative clause may be elliptically absent, especially where it expresses:a.‘as that or those just mentioned.’ Here, as in the principal sentence may be rendered by equally.c1386ChaucerKnt.'s T. 339And he loved him as tendurly agayn.c1400Destr. Troy ix. 4125Kyng Sapmon..With als⁓mony abill shippes auntrid hym seluyn.1509BarclayShyp of Folys (1874) II. 81Thoughe he be good, yet other ar als bad.1551TurnerHerbal (1568) 119Galene sayeth that clinopodium is hote and dry in the thyrde degre, but our clinopodium is not al so hote.1711SteeleSpect.No.113 ⁋4Chance has..thrown me very often in her way, and she as often has directed a Discourse to me.Mod.‘Come forward.’ ‘Thank you! I hear quite as well where I am.’b.‘as not,’ ‘as the opposite course,’ ‘as anything else’;e.g.in as lief, as soon (as not). as good, as well: See C. phrases.1775SheridanRivals v. iii,I'd as lieve let it alone.c.‘as can be imagined,’ ‘as may be,’ ‘as possible,’cf.L. quam in quam maximum, etc. Esp. in as-fast, as soon, as-tite, alswithe,q.v.B.In a subordinate sentence, as a Relative or Conjunctive Adverb, introducing a clause which expresses I. II. the mode (manner and degree), whence also III. the time, place, IV. reason, V. purpose, result, of the principal sentence; passing into VI. a relative pronoun, a relative particle, VII. a merely subordinating conjunction, and VIII. a limiting or restrictive particle.I.Of quantity or degree. (Preceded by adj.or adv.)1. a.With antecedent as (alswa, alswo, also, alse, als, etc.):{ddd}in which degree, to what extent. Expressing with antecedent as, the Comparative of Equality.[See A. II. 3, all the quotations for which also illustrate this.]b.Expressing a comparison with a hypothetical fact or state expressed by the subjunctive: As if, as though. (Cf.9.) arch.1366Mandeville,As wel as thei had ben of the same Contree.1399Langl.Rich.Redeless iii. 46Thanne cometh þer a congioun..As not of his nolle as he þe nest made.c1590MarloweJew Malta i. i. 59Will serve as well as I were present there.1795SoutheyJoan of Arc v. 325As certain of success As he had made a league with Victory.2.With antecedent so (swa, swo) in the same sense as 1.a.esp.in negative sentences.c1220Ureisun in Cott.Hom.187Hwi ne fele ich þe in mi breostes swo swote ase þuart.1366Mandeville ix. 107The cytee is not now so gret, as it was wont to be.1595Shakes.John v. v. 21The day shall not be vp so soone as I.1818ScottRob Roy,You have never so much as answered me.1849MacaulayHist.I. i. 10No country suffered so much..as England.b.in certain affirmative sentences. (See soadv.21.)c1460TownleyMyst.37A child so lufand as thouart.1594Shakes.Rich.III, ii. i. 83Looke I so pale, Lord Dorset, as the rest?1605―Macb.i. ii. 43So well thy words become thee, as thy wounds.1690LockeHum. Und.,I shall be pardoned for calling it by so harsh a name as madness.1742RichardsonPamela III. 82To think I should act so barbarously as I did.18..MacaulayEssays IV. 146In a world so full of temptation as this.a1850LongfellowSo long as you are innocent fear nothing.1855TennysonMaud i. xix. ii,When did a morning shine So rich in atonement as this?3.With antecedent as (so) suppressed:a.Giving emphasis or absoluteness to the attribute or qualification.c1200Trin.Coll.Hom.,Fair alse mone, icoren alse sune.1382WyclifSong Sol. vi. 10Faire as the moone, chosen as the sunne, ferful as of tentes sheltrun ordeyned.1590Shakes.Mids. N. i. i. 144Momentarie as a sound: Swift as a shadow, short as any dreame, Briefe as the lightening.1596SpenserF.Q. i. iii. 5Soone as the royall virgin he did spy.1667MiltonP.L. v. 138Soon as they forth were come.1742RichardsonPamela III. 241My good Lady..made me proud as proud can be.1835CrabbePar.Reg.i. 288His favourite Lucy should be rich as fair.Mod.Quick as thought, Roger seized the oar.b.esp.In parenthetical clauses forming an extension of the subject or predicate, the antecedent (so, as) formerly present is now omitted, and the relative has acquired somewhat of a concessive force=Though, however.1297R.Glouc.47To brynge vs, so fre as we beþ, in to fyl seruage.c1300in WrightPop.Sc.137And ȝut as gret as urthe and as lute as heo is, Ther nis bote, etc.1393Langl.P. Pl. C. xiv. 185So wis as þow art holde..so wide as þow regnest.1622HeylinCosmogr. iii. (1673) 114/1AsPet.Ramas (as great a Clerk as he was)..hath most vainly told us.1641EvelynMem.(1857) I. 37,I took leave of..Antwerp, as late as it was, embarking for Brussels.1727SwiftWond. WondersWks.1755 II. ii. 52The world, as censorious as it is, hath been so kind, etc.1742RichardsonPamela III. 45Bad as his Actions were..would there not have been, etc.?1835CrabbePar.Reg.i. 534Fair as she is, I would my widow take.†4.After the comparative degree=Than. Obs.exc.in dialects. (Cf.Ger.so{ddd}als, besser als, L. tam{ddd}quam, plus quam.)1460PastonLett.363 I. 534,I hadde never more neede..as I have at this tyme.1513Douglasæneis ii. xii. (xi.) 110Quhat mair hard mischance..Apperit to me as that?1523Ld.Berners Froiss. I. ccii. 238They coude do no better..as to make to their capitayne sir Eustace Damlreticourt.1568Marr. Wit &Wisd.(1846) 27,I had rather haue your rome as your componie.1653UrquhartRabelais ii. xxxii. (D.),I..never made better cheer in my life as then.1824ScottSt.Ronan's ii. (D.),I rather like him as otherwise.II.Of quality or manner. (Preceded by a verb.)* With antecedent expressed.†5.With antecedent as (alswa, alsa, also, alse, als, etc.):{ddd}in which way, in the way that. Obs.[See A. II. 4, the quotations for which also illustrate this.]6.With antecedent so (swa, swo), or an equivalent phrase containing such, same:{ddd}in the manner that{ddd}arch.(So is now usually omitted: see 8.)See so{ddd}as{ddd} of result, infra V.1205Lay.6753And swa he þer agon ase þe oðer hæfde idon.1393GowerConf.III. 117So as I shall rehercen The tides of the yere diversen.1580LylyEuphues (1636) H iv,God will so blesse you, as..your hearts can wish.1611BibleGen.xviii. 5So doe, as thou hast said.Mod.The committee was not so constituted as he had expected.7.With the clauses transposed for emphasis; as{ddd}so:a.In what manner{ddd}(in that manner); in the way that{ddd}1382WyclifPs.cii. 15As the flour of the feld so he shal floure out.c1420Liber Cocorum 38As I tolde byfore, so have þou cele.1611BibleIsa.xxiv. 2It shall be as with the people, so with the priest, as with the seruant, so with his master, etc.1614R. TailorHog hath lost Pearl in Dodsley O.P. (1780) VI. 400As she brews so let her bake.1697DrydenVirg.Georg. iv. 49As the Cold Congeals into a Lump the liquid Gold; So 'tis again dissolv'd by Summer's Heat.1860TrenchSerm.Westm.Ab. xi. 117As our speech is, so we are.b.In proportion or degree as{ddd}1541ElyotImageGovt.8As they excelled in abhominacion, so preferred he theim.c.Even as, just as; both{ddd}and, equally{ddd}and.Lat.cum{ddd}tum. arch.1602W. FulbeckePandectes 69A thing as ancient, so necessarie.1607Schol.Disc.agst.Antichr. i. i. 28Shee hath as bewayld, so also renounced her former countrey.1635NauntonFragm.Reg.200 in Phœnix (1707) I,As he was a great soldier, so was he of suitable magnanimity.1713DerhamPhys.Theol.iv. x. (1752) 173As they are the most pernicious of birds so are they the most rare.1837Sir W. HamiltonMetaph.xxviii. (1870) II. 173As some philosophers have denied to vision all perception of extension..so others have equally refused this perception to touch.** With antecedent not expressed.8.=with antecedent so omitted:a.{ddd}in the manner or way that{ddd} as you were! (in Drill): ‘Return to the position in which you were before!’ (also transf.colloq.). as it stands: taken or considered as it now is.c1175Lamb.Hom.17Heore uuel..þu aȝest to..wiðstewen ȝif þu miht al swa hit is nu laȝe a londe.c1250Gen.& Ex. 2212Iosepes men ðor quiles deden Al-so Iosep hem adde beden.a1300Havelok 306Shal it nouht ben als sho thenkes, Hope maketh fol man ofte blenkes.1377Langl.P. Pl. B.Prol.120To tilie and trauaile as trewe lyf askeþ.1535CoverdaleEzra vi. 9There shalbe geuen them daylie as is acordinge.1611BibleJohn xv. 12That ye love one another, as I have loved you.1625MarkhamSouldier's Accid. 21To reduce any of these words of direction to the same order or station in which the Souldier stood before..you shall say..As you were.1626B. JonsonStaple of Newes in Wks.(1938) VI. 358When my Muster-Master..cries, Faces about to the right hand, the left, Now, as you were.1680Radcliffe inRochester's Poems 133And be Godly a while ho, and then as you were.1802M. EdgeworthMoral T. (1816) I. xiii. 103An Englishman..thought he might insult Scotchmen as he pleased.1832CarlyleRemin. (1881) I. 15Let me write my books as he built his houses.1864HottenSlangDict.68‘As you were’, a military phrase in drilling; used in a Slang sense to one who is going on too fast in his assertions, and wants recalling to moderation.1865―Fredk.Gt.VI. (1873) 29General amicable As-you-were between Austria and Bavaria.1871J. W. T.Questions & Answers on Company Drill 28The men[are]frequently to be brought back to the ‘ready’ by the command ‘as you were’.1882Times 5 July 11The oath, as it stands, is and ought to be a religious test.1925Fraser & GibbonsSoldier & Sailor Words 11As you were: The ordinary military word of command, used colloquially by way of acknowledging a mistake in anything said,e.g., ‘I saw Smith—as you were—I mean Brown.’1935Man.of Ceremonial (War Office) ii. 14Numbers 1 and 4 of the front rank will then prove. On the command ‘As you were’, they will drop their arms to the side.b.To the same extent as, in so far as; in proportion as; according as; just as, even as.c1225St.Marherete (1866) 13Þat eiðer of oðeres, as of his ahne, beo trusti.1596Shakes.1Hen.IV, iii. iii. 165As thou art but man I dare, but, as thou art a Prince, I feare thee.1670R. CokeDisc.Trade 32Since the Rents of Land are valuable, as the Trade of the place is.1710BerkeleyPrinc.Hum.Knowl.i. §1Which, as they are pleasing or disagreeable, excite the passions of love, hatred, etc.1751JohnsonRambl.No.165 ⁋3Our state may indeed be more or less imbittered, as our duration may be more or less contracted.1837Sir W. HamiltonMetaph.xxxviii. (1870) II. 374It is blasphemy to say that God only is as we are able to think Him to be.c.In the phrases according(-ly) as, in proportion as, and the like.[See instances under according, etc.]d.In antithetical or parallel clauses, introducing a known circumstance with which a hypothesis is contrasted, or beside which a new circumstance is placed:{ddd}as on the other hand; even as; whereas; whilst.1523Ld.Berners Froiss. I. clxxvi. 213If kyng Johan had ben in Fraunce, as he was in Englande[i.e. instead of being, as was the fact, in England], he durst not haue done as he dyd.1602Shakes.Ham.v. ii. 347Had I but time, (as this fell sergeant, death, Is strick'd in his Arrest).1715BurnetOwn Time II. 2The King's own religion was suspected, as his brother's was declared.1848ThackerayBk.Snobs (1869) xvi. 71It has its prejudices, to be sure, as which of us has not?Mod.If I had been present, as I was not, I should have asked an explanation.e.as also introduces an additional circumstance: Also in the same way, and likewise, and{ddd}as well.1793SmeatonEdystone L. §252To carry her a rope to the landing-place, as also one to the..rocks on each side.9. a.Introducing a supposition, expressed by the subjunctive mood: As if, as though. arch.(Cf.1 b.)1135O.E.Chron.,Uuard þe sunne suilc als it uuare thre niht ald mone.a1250Owl & Night. 146To-svolle..Also ho hadde one frogge i-svolȝe.a1300Havelok 508Starinde als he were wod.1413Lydg.Pylgr. Sowle ii. xlv. 51Somme hadden longe hoked clawes, lyke as they had ben lyons.1593Shakes.2Hen.VI, i. i. 103Vndoing all, as all had never bin.1671MiltonP.R. iv. 447,I heard the wrack As earth and sky would mingle.1681DrydenAbs. & Achit. 848It looks as Heav'n our Ruin had design'd.1800ColeridgeWallenstein i. v,He looks as he had seen a ghost.b.If and though are now commonly expressed.a1300Cursor M. 7690Als þof his wiþerwin he war.1523Fitzherb.Surv.xi. (1539) 17As and a lorde haue a manour.1579SpenserSheph.Cal.Jan. 18As if my yeare were wast, and woxen old.1795SoutheyJoan of Arc i. 381Wks.I. 14As though by some divinity possess'd.1867CarlyleRemin. (1881) II. 18,I was banished solitary as if to the bottom of a cave.c.esp.in as it were: as if it were so, if one might so put it, in some sort: a parenthetic phrase used to indicate that a word or statement is perhaps not formally exact though practically right.c1386ChaucerNun'sPr.T. 26She was as it were a maner deye.1399Langl.P. Pl. C. ix. 22Ich wolde a-saye som tyme for solas, as hit were.1531ElyotGov.(1834) 211It draweth a man as it were by violence.1579E. K. inSpenser'sSheph.Cal.Mar. 11 Gloss.,The messenger, and as it were, the forerunner of springe.1692E. WalkerEpictetus' Mor. (1737) xxii,You're as it were the Actor of a Play.1711SteeleSpect.No.32 ⁋1She has thought fit, as it were, to mock herself.1881BuchananGod & Man I. 124She took him at once, as it were, into her confidence.10. a.With the subordinate clause abbreviated: In the same way as, as if, as it were.c1000Ags.Gosp.Matt.xxvi. 55Eall-swá to þeófe ȝe synð cumene.1382Wyclifibid. 25As to a theef ȝee han gon out.1596SpenserF.Q. i. i. 1His angry steede did chide his foming bitt, As much disdayning to the curbe to yield.1611BibleHeb.xii. 7God dealeth with you as with sonnes.1663GerbierCounsel C ij b,The Horse..is as to seek.1763J. BrownPoetry &Mus.§6. 97One of them (as wounded) fell down.1817ByronManfred i. ii. 15,I..Behold the tall pines dwindled as to shrubs.a1821KeatsTo England,To sit upon an Alp as on a throne.1859TennysonEnid 210His..hand Caught at the hilt, as to abolish him.†b.With numbers=About, as it were,Gr.ὡς, ὡσεί,OE.swylce,Goth.swe. Obs.1382WyclifJohn vi. 19Whanne þei hadden rowid as fyue and twenty furlongis or þritty.1523Ld.Berners Froiss. I. xliv. 59They were a great nombre as a xl. M. men.11.With subordinate clause reduced to its subject or object:a.After the manner of, in the likeness of, the same as, like.c1200Trin.Coll.Hom.109Ure helende aros alse sunne.c1220Leg.St.Kath. 1361Þe Keiser kaste his heaued as wod mon.c1400Destr. Troy i. 178Alse sede in þe season sowe it on þe erthe.1590SpenserF.Q. i. i. 29And often knockt his brest, as one that did repent.1611BibleGen.iii. 5Yee shall bee as Gods, knowing good and euill.1849MacaulayHist.Eng.II. 559To the..ignorant populace the law of nations and the risk of bringing on their country the just vengeance of all Europe were as nothing.1876GreenShortHist.x. §4 (1881) 800Spain rose as one man against the stranger.b.In the character, capacity, or rôle of. spec.in theatrical use.1523Ld.Berners Froiss. I. v. 4Her sonne, who was as the next heire male.1742MiddletonCicero I. iv. 303Assisted by Pompey as augur.1810ScottLady of L. iii. vii,He as truth received What of his birth the crowd believed.1837Sir W. HamiltonMetaph.xxvi. (1870) II. 139The fact is assumed as an hypothesis; the hypothesis explained as a fact.1846RuskinMod.Paint. (1851) I. i. i. i. 6The lesson which men receive as individuals, they do not learn as nations.1847Semi-Wkly. News (Fredericksburg,Va.) 7 Oct. 1/4His robust health..gave him great advantage where unusual muscular strength is necessary, as Damon, Matamor, the Gladiator, etc.1875HigginsonHist.U.S.xvi. 151This design was afterwards used as a flag.1954Times 18 Oct. 2/3Toad of Toad Hall, with Mr. Leo McKern as the irrepressible Toad.Ibid.2/4Mr. Victor Mature..as an ambitious officer of low birth,..Miss Jean Simmons as an honest serving wench.c.Introducing a complemental nominative or objective after such verbs as seem, appear, pass, rank; view, regard, represent, treat, acknowledge, know, consider, accept, etc.: see these words.1607Shakes.Cor.v. vi. 145Regarded As the most Noble Coarse.1711AddisonSpect.No.9 ⁋1He was saluted as a Brother.c1740FieldingEss.Convers. ad init.,Man is generally represented as an animal formed for..society.1742RichardsonPamela III. 76Might have imputed to me as Arrogance, or Revenge.1802ScottMinstr.Sc.Bord.I. 8He whom all civilized nations now acknowledge as the Father of Poetry.1837MacaulayBacon,Ess.(1854) I. 346/1In what we consider as his weakness.1876GreenShortHist.x. §4 (1881) 787Who still looked on themselves as mere settlers..and who regarded the name of ‘Irishman’ as an insult.12.as who:a.Like one who, as if one. arch.1551–6Robinsontr.More's Utopia 35As who should sai it were a very daungerous matter.a1586Answ.Cartwright 9Walke before me, and be thou vpright, and I will make my couenant betweene me and thee. As who say, one condition..of the couenant is our vpright and good profession.1606HollandSueton.Annot.14His courteous cariage and affabilitie: as who was readie to accept of petitions and requests.1848DickensDombey 212The Manager inclined his head, and showed his teeth, as who should say..Is that the case?†b.As being he who. So, as which, etc. Obs.1574tr.Marlorats Apocalips 9So consequently before Christ, as who sitteth by God the father.1583GoldingCalvin onDeut.cxcvi. 1219Let vs call vppon him, as which is the chiefe sacrifice that hee requireth at our handes.Ibid.vi. 31A verie notable point, as whereof wee may gather verie good and profitable doctrine.13.Introducing a clause not dependent on the predicate of the principal sentence, but referring elliptically to some other word or part, or parenthetically to the statement itself contemplated in regard to its truth, authority, universality, etc. as a rule: to state the general rule disregarding exceptions; generally, in the great majority of cases. as usual: as is or was usually the case.c1175Lamb.Hom.17Al swa ic er seide, ȝif eni mon touward criste isuneȝede, etc.c1230Ancr. R. 166Nu, as ich sigge, þis deorewurðe healewi iðisse bruchele uetles, etc.c1400Apol.Loll. 27He doþ ai þo þingis þat plesun God, os Himself seiþ.1413Lydg.Pylgr. Sowle i. xxiv. 29His skryp and burdon, whiche, as he seyth, he ne left neuer.1711AddisonSpect.No.5 ⁋3This project, as I have since heard, is postponed 'till the Summer Season.1711Steeleibid.No.104 ⁋3The Model..was, as I take it, first imported from France.1754HumeHist.Eng.(1812) I. viii. 409This war was, as usual, no less feeble in its operations, than..frivolous in its cause and object.1882Jessopp in19thCent.Nov. 735The masses in towns are, as a rule, destitute of faith in the unseen.14.Introducing a clause used to attest a statement or to adjure any one by his faith, hopes, or fears: In such a manner as befits the prayer, wish (obs.), anticipation, belief, profession that{ddd}c1386ChaucerSqr.'s T. 461If it lay in my might, I wold amenden it..Als wisly help me grete God of kynde.c1435Torr. Portugal 1446Sir Torent said, ‘as God me spede, We wille firste se that ffede.’Ibid.2504Damyselle, also muste I the[=as may I prosper!], Sylver and asure beryth he.1593Shakes.Rich.II, iii. iii. 119This sweares he, as he is a Prince, is iust, And as I am a Gentleman, I credit him.1795SoutheyJoan of Arc i. 422Wks.I. 15Think well of this; As you are human, as you hope to live In peace.1849MacaulayHist.Eng.II. 78Admonished to speak with reverence of their oppressor..as they would answer it at their peril.†15.In exclamatory sentences or clauses: The manner in which{ddd}, in what manner, how. Obs.exc.in dialects; replaced by how.c1230Ancr. R. 62Louerd Crist, ase men wolden steken veste euerich þurl.1566KnoxHist.Ref.Wks.1846 I. 103Which, as it was keapt, the ishew will witnesse.1816ScottAntiq.xxvi,‘But see as our gudemither's hands and lips are ganging.’III.Of time and place.16. a.At or during the time that; when, while; at any time that, whenever. Introducing a contemporaneous event or action. (As when rarely takes the place of simple as.)c1220Ureisun in Lamb.Hom.189He strahte forþ his riht earm ase[he]stode o rode.1297R.Glouc.283As þys kyng Edgar an honteþ ywend was, Alone he com fram ys men.c1380WyclifWycket 8The material bread that he had in hys handes as when he sayde (Hoc est corpus meum).1483CaxtonG. de la Tour F iiij,But as his wrath is gone she may wel shewe to hym yt, etc.1596SpenserF.Q. i. i. 29And all the way he prayed as he went.1697DrydenVirg.Georg. iii. 529They wander, grazing as they go.1742RichardsonPamela III. 88One Day, as she and I sat together.Mod.The thought occurred to me as I was watching the procession.b.as and when: whensoever (introducing a future event or action whose occurrence or frequency remains in doubt).Cf.if and whens.v.ifconj.8 c. Also ellipt.(in colloq.use) with loss of relative force: when possible, eventually.1945J. CorbettDeath—by Appointment xvii. 186,I gave her the key; told her that she could use the house as and when she wanted to.1958in J. N. ChanceAffair with Rich Girl 191 (Publisher's end-note),If you are a subscriber to a circulating library you may like to be advised of our new books as and when published.1965Listener 17 June 892/1They confirmed the existing main roads as future main traffic arteries to be widened ‘as and when’.1977Private Eye 13 May 17/3Perhaps as and when and if the Arabs do a deal on Bates.., someone, somewhere, will ask for an explanation.1977Custom Car Nov. 30/2We hope to be half-inching a J72 in the near future, so more on that as and when.1979Listener 23 Aug. 243/3The correct procedure, as and when we win our case, is then to apply for a writ of mandamus.1986J. HibbsCountry Bus vii. 95Its responsibilities will be the undefined functions of leadership as and when there may be a call for them.17.At the place that, in which, where. Obs.exc.as in last quotation, where it passes into sense 16 a.1297R.Glouc.555Bituene Seint Oswalde's ȝat, and þe Norþ ȝat iwis, Is a long wal inou, as þe abbode's orchard is.c1305St.Andrew 16 in E.E.P. (1862) 98Wende to patras To þe cite..as seint andreu was.c1420Chron.Vilod. 390Þen went þey þederward as þis tresere lay. [1711SteeleSpect.No.2 ⁋2He has his Periwig powdered at the Barber's as you go into the Rose.[Cf. It is right in front of you as you cross London Bridge.]]IV.Of reason.18. a.In conformity with, or in consideration of, the fact that; it being the case that; inasmuch as; since.a1400Cov.Myst.281Lete me fro this deth fle, As I dede nevyr no trespace.1664ButlerHud. ii. ii. 202As no Peer is bound to swear..it follows..t'affirm it is no perj'ry.1766Goldsm.Vic.W. i,My eldest son..was bred at Oxford, as I intended him for one of the learned professions.Mod.As you are not ready, we must go without you. He may have one, as he is a friend.b.Also with participial clause.1631WeeverAnc.Fun. Mon. 794He was enforced to returne, as destitute of those further succours.1677MoxonMech.Exerc.(1703) 203The whole Work will be spoiled, as being smaller than the proposed Diameter.1699BentleyPhal.Introd.24[He]is not handsom: as having a flat Nose.V.Of result, actual or intended.* With antecedent, so, such, that in the principal sentence.†19.With finite verb. Obs.and replaced by that.a.so{ddd}as: in such manner, to such a degree{ddd}that.c1460FortescueAbs. & Lim. Mon. (1714) 93The Commons..be so poer, as they may not gyve any thyng of their own Goods.1599HakluytVoy.II. ii. 141This so amazed our men..as they forsooke their Commanders, and left them.1622SparrowRationale (1661) 245A thing so plain as it needs no proof.1742MiddletonCicero II. vii. 207,I despised you..so as nothing could be prouder.1777RobertsonHist.Amer.I. 203His largest vessel was so clumsy and unfit for service, as constrained him to bear away for Hispaniola.†b.such{ddd}as: of that kind{ddd}that. Obs.1475CaxtonJason 23The raynes of his horse faylled..in suche wise as he tumbled, the hede under.c1555HarpsfieldDivorceHen.VIII (1878) 178Such..calamity..as since Christ his birth it never suffered the like.1628FelthamResolves i. x.Wks.1677, 14He that longs for Heaven with such impatience, as he will kill himself.1671MiltonSamson 350,I gained a son, And such a son as all men hailed me happy.c.The transition from the earlier as to that, was effected by the intermediate as that. arch.1599GreeneAlphonsus (1861) 245Hath god Mars such force..As that he can.a1687PettyPol.Arith.Pref.(1691) A iij,The Price of Food so reasonable, as that Men refuse to have it cheaper.1795tr.Mercier'sFragm.Pol.&Hist.I. 31The power..placed in the hands of a chief, in such a way as that the principle of unity in the government will be appreciated.a1866J. GroteExam.Util.Philos.362In such a manner as that the thought of Him is, etc.20.With infinitive of result or purpose. (Still in use.) Formerly that also occurred as antecedent instead of such:cf.24.c1590MarloweFaustus xiii. 13Do us that favour, as to let us see that peerless dame.1662H. MoreAntid. Ath. i. xi. (1712) 35To bear themselves so as..to cause an Arbitrarious Ablegation of the Spirits.1711AddisonSpect.No.1 ⁋2,I am not so vain as to think.1818ScottHrt. Midl. xxxvi. (1878) 345Announced in a voice so loud, as to make all..aware of the important communication.Mod.He so acquitted himself as to please everybody. Be so good as to come.** With antecedent so wanting, or conjoined with as in thesubord.clause.†21.a.With finite verb: With the result or purpose that. Obs.and replaced by so that.a1300Cursor M. 586Adam was made of manes elde, Als he might him seluen welde.1574tr.Littleton's Tenures 21 b,So as hee that holdeth by escuage, holdeth by homage.c1590MarloweFaustus x. 31The bright shining of whose glorious acts Lightens the world with his reflecting beams, As..It grieves my soul I never saw the man.1628HobbesThucydides (1822) 120He miscarried by unskilfulness so as the loss can no way be ascribed to cowardice.1797DowningDisord. Horned Cattle 118The joints will bend so as the clees or horny part..can be inclosed in the hand.†b.The transition from so as to so that gave the intervening so as that. arch.1772–84CookVoy.(1790) III. 795[They]had never been sufficiently examined, so as that an accurate judgement might be formed of their coasts.22.With infinitive of result or purpose.Mod.Put on your gloves, so as to be ready.VI.Introducing an attributive clause; after the antecedents such, same, or their equivalents.23. a.The adjective such (OE.swylc, swęlc,Goth.swâ-leik) contains theadv.swá, so, and may be analyzed as ‘so-constituted’: like so, therefore, it is followed by as: see above, 19 b.b.Same was inOE.anadv.followed by swá. Hence, after such and same, as comes, through ellipsis, to act as a relative pronoun=That, who, which.But same as usually expresses identity of kind, same that absolute identity, except in contracted sentences where same as is alone found:cf.‘he uses the same books as you do,’ ‘he uses the same books that you do,’ ‘he uses the same books as you,’ ‘you and he use the same books.’c1175Lamb.Hom.83Ho nimeð al swuch hou[i.e. hue]alse ho þer on uint.c1250Gen.& Ex. 4108Alswilc als hem bihu[f]lik bee.1340HampolePr.Consc.835Þan sal he on þe same wys hethen wende..right als he cam.1548Compl.Scot.38That samyn sound as thay beystis hed blauen.1549CoverdaleErasm. Par.Rom.ix,Suche as growe out of kynde.1611BibleTransl.Pref.2Such a one as was the glory of the land of Israel.1711SteeleSpect.No.118 ⁋3Such a Passion as I have had is never well cured.1718Hickes & NelsonLife KettlewellApp.57This is about the same Number as was now.1789G. WhiteSelborne xvii. (1853) 72Such a severe stroke..as put out one eye.1832CarlyleRemin. (1881) I. 8Never shall we again hear such speech as that was.1879LubbockSci.Lect.ii. 31Bees like the same odours as we do.†24.a.The antecedent such is also replaced by that, those, or entirely omitted, leaving as an ordinary rel.pron.=That, who, which.Cf.Norse use of som. Obs.in standard English, but common dial.in England and the United States.c1305St.Edmund 225 in E.E.P. (1862) 77Drauȝtes as me draweþ in poudre.1366Mandeville v. 36The firste Soudan was Zarocon..as was fadre to Sahaladyn.1475Bk.Noblesse 32Tho as were present.1525Ld.Berners Froiss. II.Pref.,The ymages as they used in olde tyme to erecte in worshyp.1592Shakes.Rom.& Jul. ii. i. 36That kind of Fruite As Maides call Medlers.1603HollandPlutarch's Mor. 222To those as have no children.1645FullerGoodTh.in Bad T. (1841) 32It is false that the marigold follows the sun, whereas the sun follows the marigold, as made the day before him.1747GouldEng.Ants 70That prodigious Size as we see in many Places.c1852Lamplighter (1854) 91It's he as lives in the great stone house.†b.Extended to as that. Obs.Cf.as which, 12 b.1663MarvellCorr.Wks.1872–5 II. 140If they had any thing as that remained on their part.¶As (after such or that), frequently represents not merely the simple relative, but the relative with its governing preposition; and then approaches the adverbial use in 6.1693Mem.Count Teckely i. 16A City of that importance as[=of which]Cassovia was.1711SteeleSpect.No.11 ⁋5She should be clothed in such Silks as his Wastecoat was made of.25. a.In parenthetic clauses, affirming, explaining, or commenting on a word in the principal sentence. In parenthetic affirmations,e.g.‘fool as I am,’ that is more common than as.c1550Jacke Jugeler (1820) 24Like a fole as I am and a drunken knave.1577St.Aug. Manuell 93O hard and cursed case as it was.1605Shakes.Lear iii. vii. 33Vnmercifull Lady, as you are, I'me none.1607―Temp.i. ii. 346,I haue vs'd thee (Filth as thou art) with humane care.1714AddisonSpect.No.568 ⁋1He designs his chasm, as you call it, for an Hole to creep out at.1835LyttonRienzi xii,Crouch! wild beast as thou art!b.As frequently refers to the whole statement contemplated as a fact:=A thing or fact which.1552T. Barnabe in EllisOrig.Lett.Ser.ii. II. 202Yff so be ytthat we shoulde warre with them (as God defende).1802M. EdgeworthMoral Tales I. xiii. 103 (1816)He was an Englishman, as they perceived by his accent.26.Introducing instances in exemplification or illustration of a general designation: Like and including, such as, of the kind of; for instance, for example.Apparently an elliptical use of 23, 24; thus, ‘a beast of prey, as the lion or tiger’=‘a beast of prey, such as the lion or tiger is,’ where as is a relative pronoun, though in the elliptical sentence, it sinks into a conjunction.1340HampolePr.Consc.700Many yuels, angers, and mescheefes Oft comes til man..Als feuyr, dropsy, and Iaunys.c1380WyclifPrelates iii.Wks.1880. 60A prelat, as an abott or a priour.c1420Pallad. onHusb.42Beestes that shal plowe, As hors and ox.c1530RhodesBk.Nurture in BabeesBk.68And if your Mayster will haue any conceites after dinner, as appels, Nuts, or creame.1705AddisonItaly 2,I pluck'd aboue Five different Sorts..as Wild-Time, Lauender, etc.27.From its relative or conjunctive force, as was added (rarely prefixed) to the demonstrative adverbs there, then, thither, thence, after, to make them conjunctive; it was used for some time with the interrogatives where, when, whither, whence, after they were substituted for the demonstratives. When as is found in modern poets as an archaism; the others are Obs.Cf.when that, after that; and see whereas, in which the local sense is now lost.1297R.Glouc.369Þere as þe batayle was, an abbey he let rere.1366Mandeville x. 118The colveres retournen aȝen where as thei ben norissht.c1386ChaucerMerch.T. 138Wel may the sike man wayle and wepe, Ther as ther is no wyf the hous to kepe.1634Malory's Arthur (1816) I. 80Anon, after as Balin was dead, Merlin took his sword.1483CaxtonG. de la Tour F ij,Thou..shalt not go..there as it pleseth me not.1523Ld.Berners Froiss. I. lvii. 78Can ye lede vs ther as they be?Ibid.ccxciv. 437Retourned into Fraunce, thyder as they thought to haue some aduantage.c1532―Huon 438Let the shyppe go whether as it wyll tyll it come to the porte where as thou shalte aryue.1538BaleThre Lawes 4Where as is no lawe, can no good order be.c1590MarloweJew Malta v. ii,What boots it thee..to be the Governor, When as thy life shall be at their Command?1660StanleyHist.Philos.(1701) 269/2The year following..when as Philo..accused Sophocles for having done contrary to Law.1808ScottMarm. i. xxviii,When as the Palmer came in hall, Nor lord nor knight was there more tall.VII.Introducing dependent sentences or clauses.28.Introducing a noun sentence, after say, know, think, etc. Sometimes expanded into as that. Obs.and replaced by that; but still common in southern dialect speech, where often expanded to as how. (Connected with IV:cf.that in ‘the man that is coming,’ ‘he says that he is coming.’)1483CaxtonG. de la Tour F iiij b,I saye not as ye shalle be pryuely and alone one by other.1578TimmeCalvin onGen.331It seemeth to be a very absurd reason that he giveth, as that the children of Abram could not be saved.1689Tryal Bps. 55Do you know My Lord Bishop ofSt.Asaph's handwriting? Not as I know of.1712SteeleSpect.No.508 ⁋6That the Fop..should say, as he would rather have such-a-one without a Groat, than me with the Indies.1748RichardsonClarissa (1811) IV. 259Pray let her know as that I will present her..my Lancashire Seat.1771SmollettHumph.Cl.I. 274,I believe as how your man deals with the devil.1833MarryatP. Simple xiii. (Hoppe)Seeing as how the captain had been hauling him over the coals.1856Mrs. StoweDred xi. 100,I don't know as you'll like the appearance of our place.†29.Formerly used to introduce an imperative sentence. Obs.c1374ChaucerTroylus v. 522‘For love of God,’ full pitously he seide, ‘as go we seene the paleis of Creseide.’c1386―Miller's T. 590That hoote kultour in the chymenee here, As lene it me: I haue ther-with to doone.†30.Introducing contracted interrogative sentences: as how? (arch.) as why? (illiterate.)1579TomsonCalvin'sSerm.Tim.16/1We shall see sometime how heretikes come to turne the groundes of our faith wholy vpside downe. As how? If any denie that Iesus Christ is God euerlasting, etc.1636HealeyEpictetus'Man.xxxi. 39But I have yet no meanes to benefit my countrey! As how man? you cannot builde it a schoole, an Exchange, or a Bathe: what's all that to the purpose?1742FieldingJ. Andrews iii. xii. (Mätz.)If he could be ruined alone, she should be very willing for it; for because, as why,..he deserved it.1801SoutheyThalaba iv. xv.Wks.IV. 145He might awe the Elements, and make Myriads of Spirits serve him!..But as how? By a league with Hell, a covenant that binds The soul to utter death!31.Formerly prefixed to an infinitive clause, made the occasion of introducing a statement, where a participle (or gerund) is now used: e.g.‘Speaking of volcanoes, I have seen Etna in full eruption.’c1374ChaucerTroylus v. 974But as to speke of love..I hadde a lord to whom I wedded was.VIII.Prefixed to prepositions and adverbs.32.The original sense is perhaps seen in such expressions as, as regards, as respects, as concerns,i.e.‘so far as it concerns,’ ‘in the degree, manner, or case in which it concerns.’Cf.L. quod attinet ad.1840MacaulayRanke,Ess.(1854) II. 543/1As respects natural religion..it is not easy to see, etc.1867Gd.Words Mar. 160As regards the virtues that make it possible to live the life of a civilised social being.1872F. HallFalsePhilol.50Nor is he more fortunate as relates to pronunciation.33. a.With prepositions, as has the general sense of as far as, so far as, and thus restricts or specially defines the reference of the preposition;e.g.as against, as between. as anent, as concerning, as for, as to, as touching (Fr.quant à), have all the sense of ‘as it regards, so far as it concerns, with respect or reference to.’ In as in, as by, as after, and other obsolete combinations, as was almost pleonastic. See these prepositions severally.a1300Cursor M. 6880,I shal ȝou shewe wiþouten les As anentis þis moyses.c1375WyclifAntecrist 117He shal be lyoun as to violence; as a lyoun in his chouche as to trecherie.c1386ChaucerMelib. ⁋189And as touching thy frendes, thou schalt considere which of hem beth most faithful.c1449PecockRepr. iv. vi. 455Her blamyng..muste needis be had as for vniust and vntrewe.1535Coverdale2Macc.xi. 20As concernynge other thinges..I haue committed them to youre messaungers.1611Bible1Cor.viii. 1As touching things offered unto idols, we know.1748HartleyObserv.Man.i. i. §1 ⁋5As to myself, I am not satisfied.1857HelpsFriends in C.Ser.i. I. 18My only doubt was as to the mode.1856T. HookGilb. Gurney i,[He]was questioned as to what efforts he had made to rescue his companion.1876Gladstone inContemp.Rev.June 6The rights of laymen as against priests..depend..upon his judgment.Mod.As for you, Sir, your father shall hear of this.†b.After as for, a pronoun was formerly omitted.1525Ld.Berners Froiss. II. ccxlvi.[ccxlii.]756As for these townes wyll neuer tourne frenche, for they can nat lyue in their daunger.1533UdallRoister D. iv. iii. (Arb.) 62Let him keepe him there still..As for his labour hither he shall spende in wast.1586CoganHaven Health (1636) 206As for herbs and fruits, especially raw, at all times are to be refused.c.as from, in formal dating: from, after. Also, (orig.U.S.), as of: (a) at the present time; (b) from this moment, from now.1916Ann.Reg.1915 50The British Government declared war against Bulgaria as from 10 p.m. on October 15 and the French Government as from 6 a.m. on October 16.1918Act 8Geo.V, c. 5 §1 (1),The foregoing provision shall..have effect as from a date to be specified in the Order.1943Oxfordshire County Council Quart. Meeting 10 Feb.,In these circumstances your Sub-Committee recommend that..the temporary addition to the basic salary of the Coroner for the Northern District be reduced from {pstlg}70 to {pstlg}45 as from the 1st of April, 1943.1900‘Mark Twain’Let.26 Jan. in HowellsLett.(1960) II. 716Various samples & side-lights which bring the[human]race down to date, & expose it as of yesterday.1955D. W. Maurer inPubl.Amer.DialectSoc.XXIV. 9For as of 1955 well over one half of the crimes against property in the United States were committed by youths under twenty-five.1956A. H. ComptonAtomic Quest 311As of now there is no international authority whose strength comes near to being sufficient.1957D. KarpLeave me Alone vi. 96I'm resigning from the committee as of now.1968Punch 18 Sept. 387/2How would the papers celebrate the return of hot, topical, as-of-now photographs?1970New Society 5 Feb. 223/1As of the end of 1973 women ‘would become entitled to receive treatment..which ensured orderly progress towards equal treatment’.1977J. WainwrightDo Nothin' x. 176As of now you have another job.1986Oxf.Mag.v. 6/1As of last term, Oxford has a new centre for the performing arts.34.With adverbs andadvb.phrases.a.Of time: as then, as now, as to-day, as three years ago, where as has a restrictive force. Still common dialectally: but literary English retains only as yet=up to this time, hitherto.1297R.Glouc.346Þo hys lyf was ney ydo, As in þe ȝer of hys kynedom tuenty & tuo.c1386ChaucerFrankl. T. 249,I ne haue as now no leyser moore to seye.c1400Ywaine & Gaw. 153Als this time sex yer, I rade allane.1483CaxtonG. de la Tour F iiij b,As yet they kepe and hold that custome.1523Ld.Berners Froiss. I. cccxiii. 480,I vnderstode so as then.1551R. AschamLet.Wks.1865 I. ii. 288The prince of Spain, which as to-morrow should have gone into Italy.1583GoldingCalvin onDeut.ii. 9An immortalitie which is hidde from vs as now.1618BoltonFlorus (1636) 163A province untoucht in a manner, and new to us as till then.1651Reliq. Wotton. 77Who was then as yet in possession of the king's heart.1653HolcroftProcopius i. 15He could not get John punished as then.1760Mrs. DelanyAutobiog.(1861) III. 608To carry us off to Longleat as last Thursday.1849MacaulayHist.Eng.II. 497Things as yet looked not unfavourably for James.b.Of place: as here, as there, as in that place.c1220Leg.St.Kath. 3Constantin & Maxence weren on a time, as in Keiseres stude, hehest in Rome.c1435Torr. of Portugal 2086Ffor Jhesu love thy sonne hym make, As in the stede of me.c1449PecockRepr. i. vii. 35Thei diden not ellis as there for the vertues but this.Ibid.i. iv. 21[He]groundith not as in that tho gouernauncis.c1532Ld.Berners Huon clvi. 602Let hym go and marry her, for as here he hath no thynge to do.C.Phrases. (See A. III.)1.as much (besides its ordinary use with and without as) has the sense of: The same; what practically amounts to that, all that, sophr.I thought as much.1386ChaucerFrankl. T. 290This is as much to sayn as it was night.1587GoldingDe Mornay viii. 98Is it not asmuch to say, as that the example of the Arke had imboldened them to venture vpon the Sea?1593Shakes.2Hen.VI ii. i. 15Glost. My Lord, 'tis but a base ignoble minde, That mounts no higher then a Bird can sore. Card. I thought as much, hee would be aboue the Clouds.1615Bedwelltr.Moham. Imp. ii. §65,I have heard as much, and all thou hast said is true.1778F. BurneyEvelina I. xxi. 150‘Only see, here's Miss!’ cried the brother. ‘Well, I declare I thought as much!’1873BlackPr.Thule xxi. 341The old woman apparently anticipated as much.2.as well (beside its obvious analytical import) has the senses:a.(with following as) Just as much{ddd}as; equally{ddd}with; no less{ddd}than; in the same way{ddd}as; both{ddd}and; like; in addition to, besides.b.(ellipt.) Just as much, equally, no less; also, too.c.(absol.) As well as not, as well as anything else; hence put deferentially for ‘better,’ in which sense as good is also less correctly used. as good as has alsod.the sense of: As much (or as little as), what amounts in worth or practical effect to, practically.a., b.1483CaxtonG. de la Tour E j,[Ye]haue as wel for to pay as she hath.1484Churchw.Acc.Wigtoft (Nichols 1797) 77Of dyvers persones, alsowell of men as of women of the said towne.1513–75Diurn.Occurr.(1833) 81Charging all our soueranes liegis, alsweill to burgh as to land.1596SpenserStateIrel.50They spoile aswell the subject as the enemy.1718Free-thinkerNo.12. 80They will conclude him to be a Weak Man, as well as a Bad Subject.1853TrenchProverbs 123We have a right to assume this to be a voice of God as well.c.1523Ld.Berners Froiss. I. 754We were as good to go towardes Flaunders as to Bologne.1593BilsonGovt.Christ'sCh.311Your Elders were as good spare their paines.1768SterneSent. Journ. (1778) II. 46As I am at Versailles..I might as well take a view of the town.1773Goldsm.Stoops to Conq. ii. i,You had as good not make me, I tell you.1820ByronMar. Fal. iv. ii. 5It had been As well had there been time.d.1526TindaleHeb.xi. 12Of one which was as good as deed.1837CarlyleFr.Rev.(1872) II. vi. vi. 244Some men have heart, and some have as good as none.3.as new: of a commodity, second-hand (or shop-soiled), but offered for sale in a condition allegedly as good as new; also attrib.or as adj., not yet soiled or impaired by use.1925J. A. HoldenBookman'sGloss.14As new, a catalogue description of a volume or set approaching the condition of newness.1956Bookman'sConc.Dict.23/2As new, books in almost new condition, sometimes known as shop soiled, listed in catalogues.1972J. Belfrage in G. W. TurnerGoodAustral.Eng.vi. 115Second-hand car dealers who..beg you to take as-new late models off their hands at absurdly low prices.1976Conservation News Sept./Oct. 8/2We..asked whether they would pay more for the furniture if we could supply in an ‘as new’ condition.1985N.Y.TimesMag.3 Mar. 22/2Fine means ‘virtually as new’, just as a book was when taken off the press... Out of every 2,000 used books, maybe as many as 10 would be as new.▸ colloq.as if!: (expressing dismissive or incredulous contradiction) ‘I very much doubt that!’, ‘some hope!’, ‘you must be joking!’Typically used as a sardonic response to a stated or reported suggestion.a1902F. NorrisPit (1903) i. 10‘Maybe he'll come up and speak to us.’ ‘Oh, as if!’ contradicted Laura.1981UNC-CH Slang (Univ.North Carolina, Chapel Hill) (typescript) Mar. 1‘He drank 50 beers in 5 minutes.’ ‘As if.’1991M. Myers et al.Wayne's World (film script) 107Benjamin:..Did you really think I wouldn't end up with the girl? Garth: As if.1994A. HeckerlingClueless (film script) Green Revised Pages 64Elton. What's the deal, you've been flirting with me all year. Cher. As if! I've been trying to help you and Tai get together.2001Sun 27 Jan. 42/1When she finds her cheating hubby in bed with another woman (as if!) Isabella moves to Los Angeles.▪ II.‖as,n.|æs|Also 7 asse, aas.[L.]A Roman copper coin, originally weighing twelve ounces, but reduced after the first Punic war to two ounces, during the second Punic war to one, and by the Lex Papiria (b.c. 191) to half an ounce.1601HollandPliny II. 463This new brasen Asse..was stamped with a two faced Ianus.1697Phil.Trans.XIX. 517A bit of Magnet of about the weight of an Aas.1838ArnoldHist.Rome I. 84The As having been at first a full pound in weight.▪ III.†as,pers.pron.Obs.[Phonetic variant of es, is, hes, his: see hispron.²]1.Her, it.2.Them.c1315Bodl.MS., LaudMisc.108 lf. 1 b,Ho so wole is soule sauui, He as mot alling for-leose, And who so leost is soule he as sauez, Nou maij ech man cheose.Ibid.lf. 3For ȝwan heo iseoth swuch pine & wo, Heore joye and blis is wel þe more, ȝwane heo as habbuth for go.▪ IV.asoccas.obs.var.of has, hast: see have.c1250Gen.& Ex. 1760Qui as ðu min godes stolen?▪ V.asobs.form of acen., assn., and ash.▪ VI.asvariant of askn.Obs.request.