a such "therefore"

[Arnold M. Zwicky]

On Nov 21, 2005, at 1:55 PM, Jon Lighter wrote:

> Here's what OED had to say roughly a century ago about maverick "as
> such" :...

damn!  i looked under "as" (where the expression is not mentioned)
but didn't think to look under "such".

> ...  These, and innumerable similar exx., could easily be
> miscontrued as meaning "therefore" by someone unfamiliar with the
> standard idiom.
>
>    Notice how "accordingly" (expressed as "as such" in 1721 above)
> long ago attracted a meaning almost indistinguishable from
> "consequently; therefore."

nice observations.

>   I conclude, as such, that "consequential _as such_" has almost
> certainly existed below the radar for two centuries and more.

very nice.

arnold