Main Entry:

¹white

Pronunciation:

\ˈhwīt, ˈwīt\

Function:

adjective

Inflected Form(s):

whit·er; whit·est

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 silver2 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 resonance8: consisting of a wide range of frequencies —used of light, sound, and electromagnetic radiation

— whit·ish \ˈhwī-tish, ˈwī-\ adjective