Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hwīt; akin to Old High German hwīz white and probably to Old Church Slavic světŭ light, Sanskrit śveta white, bright
Date: before 12th century
1 a: free from color b: of the color of new snow or milk; specifically: of the color white c: light or pallid in color <white hair><lips white with fear>d: lustrous pale gray :silvery; also: made of silver 2 a: being a member of a group or race characterized by light pigmentation of the skin b: of, relating to, characteristic of, or consisting of white people or their culture c[from the former stereotypical association of good character with northern European descent]: marked by upright fairness <that's mighty white of you> 3: free from spot or blemish: as a (1): free from moral impurity :innocent(2): marked by the wearing of white by the woman as a symbol of purity <a white wedding>b: unmarked by writing or printing c: not intended to cause harm <a white lie><white magic>d:favorable, fortunate<one of the white days of his life — Sir Walter Scott> 4 a: wearing or habited in white b: marked by the presence of snow :snowy<a white Christmas> 5 a: heated to the point of whiteness b: notably ardent :passionate<white fury> 6 a: conservative or reactionary in political outlook and action b: instigated or carried out by reactionary forces as a counterrevolutionary measure <a white terror> 7: of, relating to, or constituting a musical tone quality characterized by a controlled pure sound, a lack of warmth and color, and a lack of resonance 8: consisting of a wide range of frequencies —used of light, sound, and electromagnetic radiation
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