Who

Who
Who Who, pron. [Possess. {whose}; object. {Whom}.] [OE. who, wha, AS. hw[=a], interrogative pron., neut. hw[ae]t; akin to OFries. hwa, neut. hwet, OS. hw[=e], neut. hwat, D. wie, neut. wat, G. wer, neut. was, OHG. wer, hwer, neut. waz, hwaz, Icel. hvat, neut., Dan. hvo, neut. hvad, Sw. ho, hvem, neut. hvad, Goth. hwas, fem. hw[=o], neut. hwa, Lith. kas, Ir. & Gael. co, W. pwy, L. quod, neuter of qui, Gr. po`teros whether, Skr. kas. [root]182. Cf. {How}, {Quantity}, {Quorum}, {Quote}, {Ubiquity}, {What}, {When}, {Where}, {Whether}, {Which}, {Whither}, {Whom}, {Why}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Originally, an interrogative pronoun, later, a relative pronoun also; -- used always substantively, and either as singular or plural. See the Note under {What}, pron., 1. As interrogative pronouns, who and whom ask the question: What or which person or persons? Who and whom, as relative pronouns (in the sense of that), are properly used of persons (corresponding to which, as applied to things), but are sometimes, less properly and now rarely, used of animals, plants, etc. Who and whom, as compound relatives, are also used especially of persons, meaning the person that; the persons that; the one that; whosoever. ``Let who will be President.'' --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

[He] should not tell whose children they were. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

There thou tell'st of kings, and who aspire; Who fall, who rise, who triumph, who do moan. --Daniel. [1913 Webster]

Adders who with cloven tongues Do hiss into madness. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Whom I could pity thus forlorn. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

How hard is our fate, who serve in the state. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

Who cheapens life, abates the fear of death. --Young. [1913 Webster]

The brace of large greyhounds, who were the companions of his sports. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]

2. One; any; one. [Obs., except in the archaic phrase, as who should say.] [1913 Webster]

As who should say, it were a very dangerous matter if a man in any point should be found wiser than his forefathers were. --Robynson (More's Utopia). [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • who — [ hu ] pronoun *** Who can be used in the following ways: as a question pronoun (introducing a direct or indirect question): Who s going to drive? I wonder who they chose to be captain. Who did you give the money to? as a relative pronoun… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • who — W1S1 [hu:] pron [: Old English; Origin: hwa] 1.) used to ask or talk about which person is involved, or what the name of a person is ▪ Who locked the door? ▪ Who do you work for? ▪ Who s that guy with your wife? ▪ They never found out who the… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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  • Who — *Who (pronoun) is an English language interrogative pronoun.In Fiction* Who? (novel) , a 1958 novel by science fiction author Algis Budrys, turned into a film with the same title in 1973 * Doctor Who , a British science fiction television series …   Wikipedia

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  • who — [ho͞o] pron. [ME who, ho, hwo < OE hwa, masc. & fem., hwæt, neut., who? what? (akin to L qui): for IE base see WHAT] 1. what or which person or persons: used to introduce a direct, indirect, or implied question [who is he? I asked who he was;… …   English World dictionary

  • Who I Am — may refer to:Albums: * Who I Am (Jessica Andrews album) * Who I Am (Alan Jackson album) * Who I Am (Daron Jones album) * Who I Am (Beverley Knight album) * Who I Am (Amy Pearson album) * Who I Am , by Gary Wright * Who I Am , an album by Alice… …   Wikipedia

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  • who — O.E. hwa, from P.Gmc. *khwas, *khwes, *khwo (Cf. O.S. hwe, Dan. hvo, Swed. vem, O.Fris. hwa, Du. wie, O.H.G. hwer, Ger. wer, Goth. hvo (fem.) who ), from PIE *qwos/*qwes (Cf. Skt. kah …   Etymology dictionary

  • who'll — (who will) v. which will, that will (used together with another verb to indicate future tense) who ll (who shall) v. who, who will, one who will (added to directive verbs in the future tense) …   English contemporary dictionary

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