Etymology From Middle English such, swuch, swich, swilch, swulch, from Old English swelċ, from Proto-West Germanic *swalīk, from Proto-Germanic *swalīkaz (“so formed, so like”), equivalent to so + like. Cognate with Scots swilk, sic, sik (“such”), Saterland Frisian suk (“such”), West Frisian suk, sok (“such”), Low German sülk, sulk, suk (“such”), Dutch zulk (“such”), German solch (“such”), Danish slig (“like that, such”), Swedish slik (“such”), Icelandic slíkur (“such”). More at so, like.
1
Demonstrative Like this, that, these, those; used to make a comparison with something implied by context.
I’ve never seen such clouds in the sky before.
Really? Unfortunately, my mind refuses to bring any such memory forward.
4 more examples
After "reiterate" do not use "(yet) again" and other such expressions.
I had occasion […] to make a somewhat long business trip to Chicago, and on my return […] I found Farrar awaiting me in the railway station. He smiled his wonted fraction by way of greeting, […], and finally leading me to his buggy, turned and drove out of town. I was completely mystified at such an unusual proceeding.1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter II, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
She was a fat, round little woman, richly apparelled in velvet and lace, […]; and the way she laughed, cackling like a hen, the way she talked to the waiters and the maid,[…]—all these unexpected phenomena impelled one to hysterical mirth, and made one class her with such immortally ludicrous types as Ally Sloper, the Widow Twankey, or Miss Moucher.1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter II, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
Adopting such titles as “Wild Bill” and “Pecos Pete,” Canadian dominants began practicing their craft and soon attracted throngs of adoring submissives.2005, Annabelle du Fouet, “The murky world from whence it all came” (chapter 2), in Weather Balloons Make Rotten Sex Toys, Ellora's Cave, →ISBN, page 49:
2
Any.
Particularly used in formal documents
the above address or at such other address as may be provided
3
Used as an intensifier roughly equivalent to very much (of), quite or rather.
Unfortunately, it wasn't such a good holiday as we thought it would.
I spent such a lot last night (that) now I can't even afford a burger.
4 more examples
The party was such a bore. "Bottomless" is such a lie.
You're all such kind people!
They burned the old gun that used to stand in the dark corner up in the garret, close to the stuffed fox that always grinned so fiercely. Perhaps the reason why he seemed in such a ghastly rage was that he did not come by his death fairly. Otherwise his pelt would not have been so perfect. And why else was he put away up there out of sight?—and so magnificent a brush as he had too.[…].1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:
Mr. Cooke at once began a tirade against the residents of Asquith for permitting a sandy and generally disgraceful condition of the roads. So roundly did he vituperate the inn management in particular, and with such a loud flow of words, that I trembled lest he should be heard on the veranda.1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
4
Used with gradable noun phrases to form exclamations.
Such hypocrisy!
Such bouncy children you have.
1 more example
Why, I was absolutely spellbound. She sings with such passion!
5
Dialectal, Obsolete A certain; representing the object as already particularized in terms which are not mentioned.
In rushed one and tells him such a knight / Is new arrived.1595, Samuel Daniel, “(please specify the folio number)”, in The First Fowre Bookes of the Ciuile Wars between the Two Houses of Lancaster and Yorke, London: […] P[eter] Short for Simon Waterson, →OCLC:
To-day or to-morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, James 4:13:
such
pron
Etymology From Middle English such, swuch, swich, swilch, swulch, from Old English swelċ, from Proto-West Germanic *swalīk, from Proto-Germanic *swalīkaz (“so formed, so like”), equivalent to so + like. Cognate with Scots swilk, sic, sik (“such”), Saterland Frisian suk (“such”), West Frisian suk, sok (“such”), Low German sülk, sulk, suk (“such”), Dutch zulk (“such”), German solch (“such”), Danish slig (“like that, such”), Swedish slik (“such”), Icelandic slíkur (“such”). More at so, like.
1
A person, a thing, people, or things like the one or ones already mentioned.
Such is life, such as it is.
When applied to women, 'handsome' is used mostly of such as are middle-aged or elderly.
4 more examples
Such was her legal understanding that she navigated the negotiation with ease.
These oraculous proficients are day and night employed in deep searches for the direction of such as run astray after their lost goods : but at present they are more particularly serviceable to their country in foretelling the fate of such as have chances in the public lottery.1804, Joseph Addison, Richard Steele, The Tatler, C. Whittingham, John Sharpe, page 315
'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.1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
Some are just no-good locals—drunks and such—who’d just as soon beg or steal as work.2000, Terry Goodkind, Faith of the Fallen, →ISBN, page 238:
such
noun
Etymology From Middle English such, swuch, swich, swilch, swulch, from Old English swelċ, from Proto-West Germanic *swalīk, from Proto-Germanic *swalīkaz (“so formed, so like”), equivalent to so + like. Cognate with Scots swilk, sic, sik (“such”), Saterland Frisian suk (“such”), West Frisian suk, sok (“such”), Low German sülk, sulk, suk (“such”), Dutch zulk (“such”), German solch (“such”), Danish slig (“like that, such”), Swedish slik (“such”), Icelandic slíkur (“such”). More at so, like.
1
Human sciences, Philosophy, Sciences Something being indicated that is similar to something else.
But granted that Plato does not accept the this-such distinction, why saddle him with the view that all things are thises, rather than all suches or perhaps even neither?1991, Frank A. Lewis, Substance and Predication in Aristotle: