Word Study
which
CIDE DICTIONARY
which, pron. [OE. which, whilk, AS. hwilc, hwylc, hwelc, from the root of hwā who + līc body; hence properly, of what sort or kind; akin to OS. hwilik which, OFries. hwelik, D. welk, G. welch, OHG. welīh, hwelīh, Icel. hvīlīkr, Dan. & Sw. hvilken, Goth. hwileiks, hwleiks; cf. L. qualis. . See Who, and Like, a. , and cf. Such.].
- Of what sort or kind; what; what a; who. [1913 Webster]"And which they weren and of what degree." [1913 Webster]
- A interrogative pronoun, used both substantively and adjectively, and in direct and indirect questions, to ask for, or refer to, an individual person or thing among several of a class; as, which man is it? which woman was it? which is the house? he asked which route he should take; which is best, to live or to die? See the Note under What,
pron. , 1. [1913 Webster]"Which of you convinceth me of sin?" [1913 Webster] - A relative pronoun, used esp. in referring to an antecedent noun or clause, but sometimes with reference to what is specified or implied in a sentence, or to a following noun or clause (generally involving a reference, however, to something which has preceded). It is used in all numbers and genders, and was formerly used of persons. [1913 Webster]"And when thou fail'st -- as God forbid the hour! --
Must Edward fall, which peril heaven forfend!" [1913 Webster]"God . . . rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made." [1913 Webster]"Our Father, which art in heaven." [1913 Webster]"The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." [1913 Webster] - A compound relative or indefinite pronoun, standing for any one which, whichever, that which, those which, the . . . which, and the like; as, take which you will. [1913 Webster]" The which was formerly often used for which. The expressions which that, which as, were also sometimes used by way of emphasis." [1913 Webster]" Which, referring to a series of preceding sentences, or members of a sentence, may have all joined to it adjectively. “All which, as a method of a proclamation, is very convenient.”
Carlyle. " [1913 Webster]"Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?" [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
which, adj. & pron.
--interrog.adj. asking for choice from a definite set of alternatives (which John do you mean?; say which book you prefer; which way shall we go?).
--rel.adj. being the one just referred to; and this or these (ten years, during which time they admitted nothing; a word of advice, which action is within your power, will set things straight).
--interrog.pron.
1 which person or persons (which of you is responsible?).
2 which thing or things (say which you prefer).
--rel.pron. (poss. of which, whose)
1 which thing or things, usu. introducing a clause not essential for identification (cf. THAT pron. 7) (the house, which is empty, has been damaged).
2 used in place of that after in or that (there is the house in which I was born; that which you have just seen).
--interrog.adj. asking for choice from a definite set of alternatives (which John do you mean?; say which book you prefer; which way shall we go?).
--rel.adj. being the one just referred to; and this or these (ten years, during which time they admitted nothing; a word of advice, which action is within your power, will set things straight).
--interrog.pron.
1 which person or persons (which of you is responsible?).
2 which thing or things (say which you prefer).
--rel.pron. (poss. of which, whose)
1 which thing or things, usu. introducing a clause not essential for identification (cf. THAT pron. 7) (the house, which is empty, has been damaged).
2 used in place of that after in or that (there is the house in which I was born; that which you have just seen).
Idiom
which is which a phrase used when two or more persons or things are difficult to distinguish from each other.
Etymology
OE hwilc f. Gmc
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