WHICH


Meaning of WHICH in English

adj.

Pronunciation: ' hwich, ' wich

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, of what kind, which, from Old English hwilc; akin to Old High German wil ī h of what kind, which, Old English hw ā who, ge l ī k 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 (AV)>

Merriam Webster Collegiate English Dictionary.      Merriam Webster - Энциклопедический словарь английского языка.