[what] pron [ME, fr. OE hwaet, neut. of hwa who--more at who] (bef. 12c) 1 a (1)--used as an interrogative expressing inquiry about the identity, nature, or value of an object or matter "~ is this" "~ is wealth without friends" "~ does he earn" "~ 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 ~" 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 "~ do you think I am, a fool" "~ is she, that all our swains commend her --Shak." c--used as an exclamation expressing surprise or excitement and frequently introducing a question "~, no breakfast" d--used in expressions directing attention to a statement that the speaker is about to make "you know ~" e--used at the end of a question to express inquiry about additional possibilities "is it raining, or snowing, or ~" f chiefly Brit--used at the end of an utterance as a form of tag question "a clever play, ~"
2. chiefly dial: [4]that 1, which 3, who 3
3: that which: the one or ones that "no income but ~ 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, ~ is more valuable, understanding"
4. a: whatever 1a "say ~ you will" b obs: whoever -- what for 1: for what purpose or reason: why--usu. 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 esp. 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 -- what of 1: what is the situation with respect to
2: what importance can be assigned to -- 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 --Shak."
[2]what adv (bef. 12c) 1 obs: why
2: in what respect: how "~ does he care" 3--used to introduce prepositional phrases in parallel construction or a prepositional phrase that expresses cause and usu. has more than one object--used principally before phrases beginning with with "~ with unemployment increasing" "~ with the war, ~ with the sweat, ~ with the gallows, and ~ with poverty, I am custom-shrunk --Shak." [3]what adj (13c) 1 a--used as an interrogative expressing inquiry about the identity, nature, or value of a person, object, or matter "~ minerals do we export" b: how remarkable or striking for good or bad qualities--used esp. in exclamatory utterances and dependent clauses "~ mountains" "remember ~ fun we had" "~ a suggestion" "~ a charming girl"
2. a (1): whatever 1a (2): any "ornament of ~ description soever" b: the ... that: as much or as many ... as "rescued ~ survivors they found"