Main Entry: ¹which

Pronunciation: \ˈhwich, ˈwich\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, of what kind, which, from Old English hwilc; akin to Old High German wilīh of what kind, which, Old English hwā who, gelīk like — more at who, like

Date: before 12th century

1 : being what one or ones out of a group —used as an interrogative <which tie should I wear> <kept a record of which employees took their vacations in July>
2 : whichever <it will not fit, turn it which way you like>
3 —used as a function word to introduce a nonrestrictive relative clause and to modify a noun in that clause and to refer together with that noun to a word or word group in a preceding clause or to an entire preceding clause or sentence or longer unit of discourse <in German, which language might…have been the medium of transmission — Thomas Pyles> <that this city is a rebellious city… : for which cause was this city destroyed — Ezra 4:15 (Authorized Version)>