swa swa

Meaning

1. just as

   Lōca nu þæt þū ofergemet ne wilnige, nū ðū hī tōgædere metest. Woldest þū cunnan God swā swā Alipius?

   Look to it now that thy desire be not beyond measure, now that thou comparest them together. Wouldst thou know God just as thou dost Alypius?

   late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Saint Augustine's Soliloquies

2. as

   Nāst þū lā Geori þæt ūre godas swincað mid þē and ġit hī synd ġeþyldiġe þæt hī þe miltsion. Nū lǣre ic ðē swā swā lēofne sunu þæt ðū þæra cristenra lāre forlǣte mid ealle and tō mīnum rǣde hraðe ġebūge swā þæt ðū offriġe þām ārwurðan Appoline and þū mycelne wurðmynt miht swā beġitan.

   Knowest thou not, O George, that our gods are striving with thee, and even yet they are patient, that they may pity thee; now I exhort thee, as a beloved son, that thou altogether quit the Christians' doctrine, and quickly incline to my counsel, so that thou sacrifice to the venerable Apollo, and thou mayest so obtain great honour.

   late 10th century, Ælfric, "Saint George, Martyr"

3. even as

   Swa swa sume menn doð þe dyslice fæstað ofer heora mihte on gemænelicum lenctene, swa swa we sylfe gesawon oðþæt hi seoce wurdon.

   Even as some men do who foolishly fast beyond their strength in the catholic Lent, even as we ourselves have seen, until they have fallen sick.

   late 10th century, Ælfric, "The Prayer of Moses (Mid-Lent)"

4. like

   Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, year 473

   The Welsh fled the English like fire.

5. according to

   For þisum antimbre ic gedyrstlæhte, on Gode truwiende, þæt ic ðas gesetnysse undergann, and eac forðam þe menn behofiað godre lare swiðost on þisum timan þe is geendung þyssere worulde, and beoð fela frecednyssa on mancynne ærðan þe se ende becume, swa swa ure Drihten on his godspelle cwæð to his leorning-cnihtum, "Ðonne beoð swilce gedreccednyssa swilce næron næfre ær fr

   For this cause I presumed, trusting in God, to undertake this task, and also because men have need of good instruction, especially at this time, which is the ending of this world, and there will be many calamities among mankind before the end cometh, according to what our Lord in his gospel said to his disciples, "Then shall be such tribulations as have never been from the beginning of the world.

   c. 992, Ælfric, "Preface"