as it were

The story

1. Old English · inherited from*ealswā hit wǣre
2. Middle English · inherited fromas it were
3. English todayas it were

From Middle English as it were, as hyt were, als it were, als hit were, from Old English *ealswā hit wǣre, attested only as swā hit wǣre and swylċe hit wǣre (“as it were”, literally “as it would be”). Compare Dutch als het ware.