ilca
The Old English word for "the same" is ilca, used with the article: se ilca (masculine), sēo ilce (feminine), þæt ilce (neuter).
ilca means "the same, identical" and almost always follows a form of the article, as in on þǣm ilcan dæġe, "on the same day".
Meaning: not different as regards self, identical (adj)
Which one should you use?
Modern "same" goes back to same, which Old English uses only in the adverb phrase swā same, "likewise".
How does it change in a sentence?
ilca takes the weak adjective endings: se ilca, þone ilcan, þǣm ilcan.
How do you pronounce it?
ILL-kah
Did you know?
- ilca survives in the Scottish phrase "of that ilk", which means "of the same name", as in "Moncreiffe of that ilk".
Examples in context
- Wē cōmon on þǣm ilcan dæġe.We came on the same day.
- Þis is se ilca mann.This is the same man.
Example conversation
Godric and Mildryth are looking at a horse.
- GodricIs þis þīn hors, Mildryth?Is this your horse, Mildryth?
- MildrythĠēa, hit is þæt ilce hors.Yes, it is the same horse.
- GodricÞū hæfdest hit on þǣm ilcan felda ġeostran dæġ.You had it in the same field yesterday.
- MildrythSwā ic hæfde, Godric.So I did, Godric.
