I. (|)səch, (ˌ)sich (i is less frequent when stress is primary ), chiefly dial (|)sech adjective
Etymology: Middle English such, swuch, swulch, swilch, from Old English swelc, swilc, swylc; akin to Old High German sulīh, solīh such, Old Norse slīkr, Gothic swaleiks; all from a prehistoric Germanic compound whose first and second constituents respectively are represented by Old English swā so and by Old English ge līc like — more at so , like
1.
a. : of a kind or character about to be indicated, suggested, or exemplified
will do such things as counsel an immigrant on buying a secondhand car — Robert Crichton
a bag such as a doctor carries
coarse fish, such as carp, catfish, and the like — Alexander MacDonald
b. : having a quality to a degree to be indicated
his joy at seeing her was such that he wept — Henry La Cossitt
had organized with such success that after four years of operation he was able to retire — Frank Monaghan
2.
a. : having a quality already or just specified — used to avoid repetition of a descriptive term
never to accept a thing as true unless it appears to me clearly and evidently to be such — R.B.Sewall
b. : of this or that character, quality, or extent : of the sort or degree previously indicated or implied
had snorted with disdain at such vulgarity — C.S.Forester
were rejoicing over such plenty of water — Henry Lapham
by such a rigorous process of natural selection, those that reach maturity are tough — H.L.Hoskins
c. : previously characterized or specified : aforementioned
to take possession … of any horse for any of the purposes aforesaid and to detain such horse — Australian Jockey Club
3. : of so extreme a degree or quality
this is such nonsense
I never ate such food before
I've never seen such a crowd
such a day
4. : not conspicuous of its kind : neither better nor worse : mediocre
the meal, such as it was, was served quickly
the house, such as it is, is at your disposal
5. : of the same class, type, or sort : in the same category : similar
established twenty such libraries in the colonies — G.H.Doane
in all such matters … developed an extraordinary efficiency — F.J.Mather
6. : such and such
a simple matter to report that these films were shown in such a place to so many people — Cecile Starr
II. pronoun
Etymology: Middle English such, swilch, from Old English swelc, swilc, from swelc, swilc, adjective
1. : such a person or thing or such persons or things
the father of such as dwell in tents — Gen 4:20 (Authorized Version)
a general philosophy of life, if it may be called such — T.S.Eliot
2. : someone or something that has been or is being stated, implied, or exemplified
such was the result of his efforts
if such is the decision, nothing further should be done
such is life
3. : someone or something similar : a person or thing of the same kind
regarded a little water coloring and such as a polite accomplishment — Alfred Werner
ship … planes and munitions and such in return for raw materials — New Republic
•
- as such
III. adverb
Etymology: Middle English such, swilch, from Old English swelce, swilce, from swelc, swilc, adjective
1.
a. : to such a degree : so
I have never seen such tall buildings
such a fine person
b. : especially , very
physically, he was not in such good shape — Jay Leyda
hasn't been in such good spirits the last few days
2. : in such a way
the light is refracted such that the point of light appears as a streak — H.G.Armstrong