twas

Twas is a contraction of it was (and sometimes it were) used in English to convey an archaic, poetic, or rhetorical tone. The standard written form is ’twas, with an initial apostrophe indicating the elision of letters from it. In practice, the word is typically pronounced as "twaz," rhyming with jaws.

Etymology and history: ’twas emerges from the merger of it and was in Early Modern English and earlier, when contractions became common in both prose and verse. It forms part of a small family of common contractions such as ’tis (it is), ’twill (it will), and ’twere (it were). The use of ’twas is especially associated with older literature and with stylized or festive writing.

Usage and examples: In modern writing, ’twas is usually limited to quotation, pastiche, historical fiction, or Christmas literature to evoke a historical or lyrical mood. A famous example is the opening line of Clement Clarke Moore’s A Visit from St. Nicholas: "'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house..." The opening of Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky also features the related archaism "'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves." Outside of quotation or stylistic effect, the contraction is generally avoided in contemporary prose.

See also: Related contractions in English include ’tis, ’twill, and ’twere. These forms share the same pattern of elision and are used to create a dated or poetic feel in text.