English

Contraction

’twas

1. (archaic or poetic) it was.
   • 1779, John Newton, “Amazing Grace”:

     ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, / […]

   • 1823, perhaps Clement Clarke Moore, “A Visit from St. Nicholas”:

     ’Twas the night before Christmas, […]

   • 1871, Lewis Carroll, “Jabberwocky”, in Through the Looking-Glass:

     ’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves / Did gyre and gimble in the wabe; / […]

   • 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 1, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:

     'Twas early June, the new grass was flourishing everywheres, the posies in the yard—peonies and such—in full bloom, the sun was shining, and the water of the bay was blue, with light green streaks where the shoal showed.

Derived terms

• ’twasn’t

See also

• ’tis

Anagrams

• ATWS, AWTs, swat, Swat, SWAT, taws, wast, wats, WSTA