Emily Dickinson Lexicon
Definition for WHAT
WHAT, pron. [relative or substitute. Sax. hwæt; Goth. waiht; D. wat; G. was; Dan. and Sw. hvad; Scot. quhat; L. quod, quid. The Sax. hwæt, hwat, signifies brisk, lively vigorous; which shows that this pronoun is the same word as wight, a living being, from the root of the L. vivo, for vigo. See Wight. The Gothic h, represents the Latin c, in victus.]
- That which. Say what you will, is the same as say that which you will.
- Which part. Consider what is due to nature, and what to art or labor.
- What is the substitute for a sentence or clause of a sentence. “I tell thee what, corporal, I could tear her.” Here what relates to the last clause, “I could tear her;” this is what I tell you.
- What is used as an adjective, of both genders, often in specifying sorts or particulars. See what colors this silk exhibits. I know what qualities you desire in a friend; that is, I know the qualities which you desire.
- What is much used in asking questions. What sort of character is this? What poem is this? What man is this we see coming?
- What time, at the time or on the day when. What time the morn mysterious visions brings. – Pope.
- To how great a degree. What partial judges are our love and hate! – Dryden.
- Whatever. Whether it was the shortness of his foresight, the strength of his will … or what it was. – Bacon.
- Some part, or some. "The year before, he had so used the matter, that what by force, what by policy, he had taken from the Christians above thirty castles;" that is, he had taken above thirty castles, a part or some by force, a part or some by policy; or what may be interpreted partly. – Knolles. Sometimes what has no verb to govern it, and it must be considered as adverbially used. "What with carrying apples and fuel, he finds himself in a hurry;" that is, partly, in part.
- What is sometimes used elliptically for what is this, or how is this? What! could ye not watch with me one hour? – Matth. xxvi.
- What is used interrogatively and elliptically, as equivalent to what will be the consequence? What will follow as in the phrase, what if I undertake this business myself? What though, that is, grant this or that; allow it to be so. What ho, an exclamation of calling.
Return to page 37 of the letter “W”.