what /(h)wot/

Neuter of who, used to form questions regarding identity, selection from an indefinite number, nature, value, etc (also used elliptically, as in what did you say?, what do you think?, what is it?)

Who?

1. That which
2. Such … as
3. Which (dialect)
4. Any or anything whatever
5. Whoever (Shakespeare)

1. Something
2. A portion, bit (Spenser)
3. Fare, in the phrase such homely what (Spenser, Faerie Queene VI.9.7.4)

1. Why? (obsolete)
2. In what way, how? to what degree?

1. As much as (dialect)
2. That (as in but what that … not)

Used in summoning, calling attention, expressing surprise, disapprobation, protest, etc

whatˈen or whattˈen adjective (from whatkin what kind; dialect)

1. What
2. What kind of

whatˈna adjective

(from whatkin a) same as whaten above

whatˈness noun

1. What a thing is
2. Essence
3. Quiddity

whatˈabouts plural noun

The things one is occupied about

whatˈ-d'you-call-it, -'em, etc noun

A word substituted for the name of a thing or person in forgetfulness or contempt (also whatˈ-you-may-call-it, etc)

whatevˈer or (literary) whate'er /wot-ārˈ or hwot-ārˈ/ pronoun

1. Anything that
2. No matter what
3. What? (informal)

adjective

Any or all that, no matter what

interjection

An expression intended to convey indifference

whatˈ-like adjective (dialect)

Of what kind, character or appearance

whatˈnot see separate entry; see also what not below.

what'sˈ-his- (her-, its-, etc) name noun (informal)

Someone or something indicated or understood whose name one cannot, or cannot be bothered to, recall (also whatˈsit and (US) whatˈsis)

whatˈso adjective (archaic)

Of whatever kind

pronoun

1. Whatever (archaic)
2. Whoever (obsolete)
3. Whosoever (obsolete)

whatsoevˈer or (old) whatsoe'er /wot-sō-ārˈ or hwot-sō-ārˈ/ adjective and pronoun

Whatever

whatsomevˈer adjective and pronoun (dialect)

Whatsoever

what-you-may-call-it see what-d'you-call-it above.

and what all

And so on, and suchlike things

know what it is

1. To know what is involved in an action or experience
2. To have experienced or suffered it

or whatever (informal)

Or some such thing

so what?

What of it?

what about

1. Do you fancy (something, or doing something)?
2. What is your opinion of (someone or something)?
3. Aren't you forgetting (someone or something)?

what an if (Shakespeare)

What if, or though

what else?

Could anything else be the case?

what for (informal)

Punishment, chastisement, as in I'll give you what for!

what … for?

For what reason, or with what purpose in mind? (also dialect what for…?)

what for a (obsolete)

What kind of

what have you (informal)

1. What not
2. Anything else of the kind

what ho

A loud hail or summons

what if

1. What would it matter if? (also what matter if)
2. What would happen if?

what … like?

A common form of request for a description or opinion of something or someone, as in what is she like?, what does this look, sound, like?

what next?

1. What is to be done next?
2. What will happen next? (often said in despair or trepidation)

what not

1. (elliptical for ‘what may I not say?’) (and) other such things, (and) so forth
2. (and) anything and everything else (old)

what now?

1. What is the meaning of this latest interruption?
2. What is to be done now?
3. What's wrong now?

what of

1. What comes of or follows from?
2. What do you think of?
3. What is the news of?

what of it?

Does it matter? (with the implication that it does not)

what's more

And, more importantly

what's new? see under new

what's what

1. The true position of affairs
2. The proper, conventional or profitable way to behave or proceed
3. What really counts or matters

what's with (informal; esp US)

1. What's the matter with?, what's up with?
2. What do you mean by (doing something)?

what the hell, the dickens, the devil, etc (informal)

Whatever

what then?

1. What would come of it?, what would be the consequence?
2. What happened after that?

what though

1. What does it matter though
2. Notwithstanding the fact that

what time (archaic)

At the very time when

what with

Because of, considering

• imprisoned
• imprisoning
• imprisonment
• imprisonments
• imprisons
• improbabilities
• improbability
• improbable
• improbably
• improbation
• improbations
• improbities
• improbity
• impromptu
• impromptus
• improper
• improper fraction
• improper fractions
• improperly
• impropriate
• impropriated
• impropriates
• impropriating
• impropriation
• impropriations