what

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. Used adjectively, meaning how remarkable, or

how great; as, what folly! what eloquence! what courage!

pron., a., & adv. Sometimes prefixed to adjectives in an

adverbial sense, as nearly equivalent to how; as, what happy boys!

pron., a., & adv. As a relative pronoun

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 adjectively, equivalent to the . . .

which; the sort or kind of . . . which; rarely, the . . . on, or at,

which.

pron., a., & adv. Used adverbially in a sense corresponding to

the adjectival use; as, he picked what good fruit he saw.

pron., a., & adv. Whatever; whatsoever; what thing soever; --

used indefinitely.

pron., a., & adv. Used adverbially, in part; partly; somewhat;

-- with a following preposition, especially, with, and commonly with

repetition.

Something; thing; stuff.

interrog. adv. Why? For what purpose? On what account?