mmrrddiinn
5 Answers
robertgrist
what |(h)w?t, (h)wät|
pronoun
1 [ interrogative pronoun ] asking for information specifying something: what is your name? | I'm not sure what you mean.
• asking for repetition of something not heard or confirmation of something not understood: what? I can't hear you | you did what?
2 [ relative pronoun ] the thing or things that (used in specifying something): what we need is a commitment.
• (referring to the whole of an amount) whatever: I want to do what I can to make a difference.
• dialect who or that: the one what got to my house.
3 (in exclamations) emphasizing something surprising or remarkable: what some people do for attention!
determiner
1 [ interrogative determiner ] asking for information specifying something: what time is it? | do you know what excuse he gave me?
2 [ relative determiner ] (referring to the whole of an amount) whatever: he had been robbed of what little money he had.
3 (in exclamations) how great or remarkable: [ as determiner ] : what luck! | [ as predeterminer ] : what a fool she was.
adverb
1 to what extent?: what does it matter?
2 used to indicate an estimate or approximation: see you, what, about four?
3 informal, dated used for emphasis or to invite agreement: pretty poor show, what?
PHRASES
and (or or ) what have you informal and/or anything else similar: for a binder try soup, gravy, cream, or what have you.
and what not informal and other similar things.
give someone what for see give.
what about ——? 1 used when asking for information or an opinion on something: what about the practical angle? 2 used to make a suggestion: what about a walk?
what-d'you-call-it (or what's-its name ) informal another term for whatchamacallit.
what ever used for emphasis in questions, typically expressing surprise or confusion: what ever did I do to deserve him?
what for? informal for what reason?
what if ——? 1 what would result if ——?: what if nobody shows up? 2 what does it matter if ——?: what if our house is a mess? I'm clean.
what is more and as an additional point; moreover.
what next see next.
what of ——? what is the news concerning ——?
what of it? why should that be considered significant?
what's-his (or -its ) -name another term for whatshisname.
what say ——? used to make a suggestion: what say we take a break?
what's what informal what is useful or important: I'll teach her what's what.
what with because of (used usually to introduce several causes of something): what with the drought and the neglect, the garden is in a sad condition.
ORIGIN Old English hwæt, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wat and German was, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin quod .
usage: On the distinction between what ever and whatever, see usage at whatever.
| 10 years ago. Rating: 8 | |
Colleen
whovin
! beats me
hector5559
Bob/PKB
