swa hwæt swa

Old English

Etymology

From swa (“so”) +‎ hwæt (“what”) +‎ swa (“so”)

Adverb

swā hwæt swā

  1. anything
    • late 10th century, Ælfric, "Chair of Saint Peter"
      ...him cōm stemn tō, þus clypiende þriwa, 'ārīs nū petrus and þās rēðan dēor ofsleh, maca þē tō mete þæt þū meġe þē ġereordian. Þā cwæð sē halga wer, 'ne ġewurðe hit, lēof drihten forþan ðe ic ne onbyrgde swā hwæt swā unclǣne bið.
      A voice came to him, thus crying thrice, 'arise now, Peter, and slay these savage beasts, make for thee meat, that thou mayst satisfy thyself.' Then said the holy man, 'let it not be so, dear Lord, for I have never tasted anything that is unclean.'
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