what

¹what

pronoun \ˈhwät, ˈhwət, ˈwät, ˈwət\

Definition of WHAT

1

a (1) —used as an interrogative expressing inquiry about the identity, nature, or value of an object or matter <what is this> <what is wealth without friends> <what does he earn> <what hath God wrought> (2) —often used to ask for repetition of an utterance or part of an utterance not properly heard or understood <you said what>

b (1) archaic : who 1 —used as an interrogative expressing inquiry about the identity of a person (2) —used as an interrogative expressing inquiry about the character, nature, occupation, position, or role of a person <what do you think I am, a fool> <what is she, that all our swains commend her — Shakespeare>

c —used as an exclamation expressing surprise or excitement and frequently introducing a question <what, no breakfast>

d —used in expressions directing attention to a statement that the speaker is about to make <you know what>

e (1) —used at the end of a question to express inquiry about additional possibilities <is it raining, or snowing, or what> (2) —used with or at the end of a question usually in expectation of agreement <is this exciting, or what>

f chiefly British —used at the end of an utterance as a form of tag question <a clever play, what>

2

chiefly dialect : ⁴that 1, which 3, who 3

3

a : that which : the one or ones that <no income but what he gets from his writings> —sometimes used in reference to a clause or phrase that is yet to come or is not yet complete <gave also, what is more valuable, understanding>

b : the thing or things that <what you need is a vacation> <what angered us was the tone of the article>

4

a : whatever 1a <say what you will>

b obsolete : whoever

— what for

1

: for what purpose or reason : why —usually used with the other words of a question between what and for <what did you do that for> except when used alone

2

: harsh treatment especially by blows or by a sharp reprimand <gave him what for in violent Spanish — New Yorker>

— what have you

: whatnot <novels, plays, short stories, travelogues, and what have you — Haldeen Braddy>

— what if

1

: what will or would be the result if

2

: what does it matter if <so what if he doesn't like it>

— what of

1

: what is the situation with respect to

2

: what importance can be assigned to

— what's more

: in addition : furthermore

— what's what

: the true state of things <knows what's what when it comes to fashion>

— what though

: what does it matter if <what though the rose have prickles, yet 'tis plucked — Shakespeare>

Origin of WHAT

Middle English, from Old English hwæt, neuter of hwā who — more at who

First Known Use: before 12th century

²what

adverb

Definition of WHAT

1

obsolete : why

2

: in what respect : how <what does he care>

3

—used to introduce prepositional phrases in parallel construction or a prepositional phrase that expresses cause and usually has more than one object ; used principally before phrases beginning with with <what with unemployment increasing> <what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk — Shakespeare>

First Known Use of WHAT

before 12th century

³what

adjective

Definition of WHAT

1

a —used as an interrogative expressing inquiry about the identity, nature, or value of a person, object, or matter <what minerals do we export>

b : how remarkable or striking for good or bad qualities —used especially in exclamatory utterances and dependent clauses <what mountains> <remember what fun we had> <what a suggestion> <what a charming girl>

2

a (1) : whatever 1a (2) : any <ornament of what description soever>

b : the … that : as much or as many … as <rescued what survivors they found>

First Known Use of WHAT

13th century