Word Study
Who
CIDE DICTIONARY
Who, pron. [OE. who, wha, AS. hwā, interrogative pron., neut. hwæt; akin to OFries. hwa, neut. hwet, OS. hw, 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, neut. hwa, Lith. kas, Ir. & Gael. co, W. pwy, L. quod, neuter of qui, Gr. po`teros whether, Skr. kas. How, Quantity, Quorum, Quote, Ubiquity, What, When, Where, Whether, Which, Whither, Whom, Why.].
- 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. Macaulay. [1913 Webster]"[He] should not tell whose children they were." [1913 Webster]"There thou tell'st of kings, and who aspire;
Who fall, who rise, who triumph, who do moan." [1913 Webster]"Adders who with cloven tongues
Do hiss into madness." [1913 Webster]"Whom I could pity thus forlorn." [1913 Webster]"How hard is our fate, who serve in the state." [1913 Webster]"Who cheapens life, abates the fear of death." [1913 Webster]"The brace of large greyhounds, who were the companions of his sports." [1913 Webster] - One; any; one. [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." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Who, abbr. World Health Organization.
Who, pron. (obj. whom or colloq. who; poss. whose)
1 a what or which person or persons? (who called?; you know who it was; whom or who did you see?).
1 a what or which person or persons? (who called?; you know who it was; whom or who did you see?).
Idiom
as who should say like a person who said; as though one said. who-does-what (of a dispute etc.) about which group of workers should do a particular job. who goes there? see GO(1). who's who
1 who or what each person is (know who's who).
2 a list or directory with facts about notable persons.
1 who or what each person is (know who's who).
2 a list or directory with facts about notable persons.
Usage
In the last two examples whom is correct but who is common in less formal contexts.
3 and or but he, she, they, etc. (gave it to Tom, who sold it to Jim).
4 archaic the or any person or persons that (whom the gods love die young).
3 and or but he, she, they, etc. (gave it to Tom, who sold it to Jim).
4 archaic the or any person or persons that (whom the gods love die young).
Etymology
OE hwa f. Gmc: whom f. OE dative hwam, hw{aelig}m: whose f. genit. hw{aelig}s
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