Re: Last Post Wins
What?
Pronunciation: \ˈhwät, ˈhwət, ˈwät, ˈwət\
Function: 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> fchiefly British —used at the end of an utterance as a form of tag question <a clever play, what>
2chiefly dialect : 4that 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>