I. (ˌ)if, _əf, f, chiefly dial (|)ef conjunction
Etymology: Middle English yif, if, from Old English gif; akin to Old Frisian jef, ef if, whether, Old High German ibu, oba if, whether, Gothic ibai whether, and perhaps to Latin is he, that — more at iterate
1.
a. : in the event that : in case
if the train is on time, we'll meet him
the news if false will prove distressing
b. : allowing, conceding, or granting that
if he actually did commit the crime
c. : supposing
if the money were right here on the table, you couldn't count it
d. : so long as : on condition that
if any part of the plan succeeds, you will get the credit
if you can keep your head when all about are losing theirs — Rudyard Kipling
2. : whether
not knowing if the candidate had the necessary qualifications
asked if the mail had come
doubts if two and two make four — Matthew Prior
3. — used to introduce an exclamation expressing a wish
if it would only rain
4. : even though : although perhaps
an interesting if untenable argument
if we are broke, still we got our money's worth
•
- if anything
II. ˈif noun
( -s )
1. : condition
an argument with too many ifs in it
: stipulation
a contract weakened by ifs
2. : supposition
a theory full of ifs