what
conj.
to what extent
interj.
Really? (used to express surprise)
pron.
word used in a question to request more information; which; how much; don't you agree?
adv.
word used in a question to begin a prepositional phrase; which; to what extent; how much; word used in a question to stress a certain situation
adj.
word used in question to request specific information; which
n.
word used in a question to inquire about a thing
WHAT
What
What
(pron., a., & adv.)
Whatever; whatsoever; what thing soever; -- used indefinitely.
(pron., a., & adv.)
Used substantively with the antecedent suppressed, equivalent to that which, or those [persons] who, or those [things] which; -- called a compound relative.
(pron., a., & adv.)
Used adverbially, in part; partly; somewhat; -- with a following preposition, especially, with, and commonly with repetition.
(pron., a., & adv.)
Used adverbially in a sense corresponding to the adjectival use; as, he picked what good fruit he saw.
(pron., a., & adv.)
Used adjectively, meaning how remarkable, or how great; as, what folly! what eloquence! what courage!
(pron., a., & adv.)
Used adjectively, equivalent to the . . . which; the sort or kind of . . . which; rarely, the . . . on, or at, which.
(pron., a., & adv.)
Sometimes prefixed to adjectives in an adverbial sense, as nearly equivalent to how; as, what happy boys!
(pron., a., & adv.)
As an interrogative pronoun, used in asking questions regarding either persons or things; as, what is this? what did you say? what poem is this? what child is lost?
(pron., a., & adv.)
As an exclamatory word: -- (a) Used absolutely or independently; -- often with a question following.
(pron., a., & adv.)
As a relative pronoun
(n.)
Something; thing; stuff.
(interrog. adv.)
Why? For what purpose? On what account?
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), edited by Noah Porter.
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WHAT^
what
if analysis