Such a.
1. Of that kind; of the like kind; like; resembling; similar; as, we never saw such a day; -- followed by that or as introducing the word or proposition which defines the similarity, or the standard of comparison; as, the books are not such that I can recommend them, or, not such as I can recommend; these apples are not such as those we saw yesterday; give your children such precepts as tend to make them better.
And in his time such a conqueror
That greater was there none under the sun. --Chaucer.
His misery was such that none of the bystanders could refrain from weeping. --Macaulay.
Note: ☞ The indefinite article a or an never precedes such, but is placed between it and the noun to which it refers; as, such a man; such an honor. The indefinite adjective some, several, one, few, many, all, etc., precede such; as, one such book is enough; all such people ought to be avoided; few such ideas were then held.
2. Having the particular quality or character specified.
That thou art happy, owe to God;
That thou continuest such, owe to thyself. --Milton.
3. The same that; -- with as; as, this was the state of the kingdom at such time as the enemy landed. “[It] hath such senses as we have.”
4. 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. --Daniel.
To-day or to-morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year. --James iv. 13.
Note: ☞ Such is used pronominally. “He was the father of such as dwell in tents.” --Gen. iv. 20. “Such as I are free in spirit when our limbs are chained.” --Sir W. Scott. Such is also used before adjectives joined to substantives; as, the fleet encountered such a terrible storm that it put back. “Everything was managed with so much care, and such excellent order was observed.” --De Foe.
Temple sprung from a family which . . . long after his death produced so many eminent men, and formed such distinguished alliances, that, etc. --Macaulay.
Such is used emphatically, without the correlative.
Now will he be mocking:
I shall have such a life. --Shak.
Such was formerly used with numerals in the sense of times as much or as many; as, such ten, or ten times as many.
Such and such, or Such or such, certain; some; -- used to represent the object indefinitely, as already particularized in one way or another, or as being of one kind or another. “In such and such a place shall be my camp.” --2 Kings vi. 8. “Sovereign authority may enact a law commanding such and such an action.” --South.
Such like or Such character, of the like kind.
And many other such like things ye do. --Mark vii. 8.
◄ ►