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'twas

American  
[twuhz, twoz, twuhz] / twʌz, twɒz, twəz /
  1. contraction of it was.


'twas British  
/ twɒz, twəz /

contraction

  1. it was

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

See contraction.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

How I wanted you but, sniff, sniff, ’twas not to be.

From Seattle Times Jul. 21, 2023

A male voice in the cast parried with a hint of old-world courtliness: “Yet ’twas well sung, my friend!”

From New York Times Feb. 16, 2023

That Wasn’t a canal — nay, ’twas a hat.

From Washington Post Nov. 10, 2022

But men have it differently; 'twas ever thus.

From Salon Apr. 3, 2022

And ’twas as if one said to me, Play as you will.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

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