I. ˈhwich, ˈwich adjective
Etymology: Middle English, of what kind, which, from Old English hwilc; akin to Old High German wilīh of what kind, which, Old English hwā who, ge līk 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 (Authorized Version)
II. pronoun
Date: before 12th century
1. : what one or ones out of a group — used as an interrogative
which of those houses do you live in
which of you want tea and which want lemonade
he is swimming or canoeing, I don't know which
2. : whichever
take which you like
3. — used as a function word to introduce a relative clause; used in any grammatical relation except that of a possessive; used especially in reference to animals, inanimate objects, groups, or ideas
the bonds which represent the debt — G. B. Robinson
the Samnite tribes, which settled south and southeast of Rome — Ernst Pulgram
— used freely in reference to persons as recently as the 17th century
our Father which art in heaven — Matthew 6:9(Authorized Version)
and still occasionally so used but usually with some implication of emphasis on the function or role of the person rather than on the person as such
chiefly they wanted husbands, which they got easily — Lynn White
— used by speakers on all educational levels and by many reputable writers, though disapproved by some grammarians, in reference to an idea expressed by a word or group of words that is not necessarily a noun or noun phrase
he resigned that post, after which he engaged in ranching — Current Biography
Usage: see that IV