I. ˈhwät, ˈhwət, ˈwät, ˈwət pronoun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hwæt, neuter of hwā who — more at who
Date: before 12th century
1.
a.
(1) — used as an interrogative expressing inquiry about the identity, nature, or value of an object or matter
what is this
what is wealth without friends
what does he earn
what 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 what
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
what do you think I am, a fool
what is she, that all our swains commend her — Shakespeare
c. — used as an exclamation expressing surprise or excitement and frequently introducing a question
what , no breakfast
d. — used in expressions directing attention to a statement that the speaker is about to make
you know what
e.
(1) — used at the end of a question to express inquiry about additional possibilities
is it raining, or snowing, or what
(2) — used with or at the end of a question usually in expectation of agreement
is this exciting, or what
f. chiefly British — used at the end of an utterance as a form of tag question
a clever play, what
2. chiefly dialect : that IV,1, which 3, who 3
3.
a. : that which : the one or ones that
no income but what 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, what is more valuable, understanding
b. : the thing or things that
what you need is a vacation
what angered us was the tone of the article
4.
a. : whatever 1a
say what you will
b. obsolete : whoever
•
- what for
- what have you
- what if
- what of
- what's more
- what's what
- what though
II. adverb
Date: before 12th century
1. obsolete : why
2. : in what respect : how
what does he care
3. — used to introduce prepositional phrases in parallel construction or a prepositional phrase that expresses cause and usually has more than one object; used principally before phrases beginning with with
what with unemployment increasing
what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk — Shakespeare
III. adjective
Date: 13th century
1.
a. — used as an interrogative expressing inquiry about the identity, nature, or value of a person, object, or matter
what minerals do we export
b. : how remarkable or striking for good or bad qualities — used especially in exclamatory utterances and dependent clauses
what mountains
remember what fun we had
what a suggestion
what a charming girl
2.
a.
(1) : whatever 1a
(2) : any
ornament of what description soever
b. : the…that : as much or as many…as
rescued what survivors they found