| 释义 |
▪ I. when, adv. (conj., n.)|hwɛn|
Forms: α. 1–3 hwonne, (1 huonne), 3 wonne, 3–4 whonne, 6 Sc. quhone. β. 1–3 hwanne, 3 wæne, quanne, (quuanne, ȝwanne, ȝwane), 3–4 wane, 3–5 whanne, wanne, quane, 4 huanne, 6 whane, Sc. quhane. γ. 1 hwenne, hwænne, (hoenne), 2–3 wenne, 3 hwenne, weonne, 3–5 whenne, 4 quenne, qwenne, quene, Sc. qwene, qwhene, 4–6 Sc. quhene, 5 whene. δ. 3–4 hwon, won, (4 wȝon), 4–5 whon, 5 qwon. ε. 3–4 hwan, (3 quuan, quæn), 3–5 wan, quan, 3–6 whan, (4 van, 5 whann), 5–6 Sc. quhan. ζ. 3 hwen, 3–5 wen, 4–5 quen, (4 qwheyn, 5 qwen, qwhen), 4–8 Sc. quhen, 4– when.
[OE. hwanne, hwǫnne, hwenne, (Nth. hwœnne), late WS. hwænne, corresp. to OFris. wanne, (h)wenne until, if (Fris. wan when, if), OS. hwan when, hwanna at some time, when, (MLG. wan, wen, wanne, wenne, MDu. wan, wen, surviving in Du. wanneer when = OS. hwan êr as soon as), OHG. wanne, wenni, -e (MHG. wanne, wenne, G. wann when, wenn if), Goth. hwan when, how: a derivative of the interrog. stem χwa- who, what, as then is of the demonstrative þa-; cf. Avestic kəm how, L. quom, cum when, OPruss. kan if, OIr. can, W. pan.
The formations present points of difficulty; the following related forms have a dental suffix: OFris. hwande, hwante, wande, want, hwende, hwent(e (Fris. want) for, because, as, OS. hwanda, hwand when, for, because (MLG. wande), OHG. (h)wanta why, L. quando when (cf. Skr. kadā́ when, Lith. kadà where, etc.).]
I. Interrogative uses.
1. a. In a direct question: At what time? on what occasion? Sometimes passing into the sense: In what case or circumstances? (cf. 8). Also with ellipsis of the remainder of the question (see also b).
c1000Ags. Gosp. Matt. xxv. 37 Hwænne ᵹesawe we ðe hingriᵹende, & we ðe feddon? c1000Ags. Ps. (Th.) xl[i]. 5 Hwonne ær he beo dead, oþþe hwænne his nama aspringe? c1175Lamb. Hom. 65 Wenne scal þos bode us god don? 1382Wyclif Ps. xli[i]. 3 Whan I shal comen, and apere befor the face of God? c1412Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 864 Whan schol ye þre to vs be reconsiled? 1540Palsgr. Acolastus iv. v. V j b, Thou shalt haue gold tolde out to the. La. Whan, at the Grekish calendes? 1590Shakes. Com. Err. ii. ii. 13 When spake I such a word? 1681Dryden Abs. & Achit. i. 387 When should People strive their Bonds to break, If not when Kings are Negligent or Weak? 1742Young Nt. Th. iii. 537 When shall I die?—when shall I live for ever? 1841Punch 24 July 21/2 When is a horse like a herring?—When he's hard rode. 1865Dickens Mut. Fr. iii. xiv, When shall I come to see you, Mr. Boffin? 1867Tennyson Holy Grail 255 Who shall blazon it? when and how?
†b. ellipt. as an exclamation of impatience. Obs.
1592Kyd Sp. Trag. iii. i. 47 No more, I say: to the tortures, when! 1596Shakes. Tam. Shr. iv. i. 147 Off with my boots, you rogues: you villaines, when? 1623Middleton More Dissemblers v. i. (1657) 66 Why when? begin Sir: I must stay your leisure.
2. In a dependent question or clause of similar meaning: At what time; on what occasion; in what case or circumstances. Also ellipt.
say when, colloq. formula used by a person pouring out drink for another, to ask him to say when he shall stop; also ellipt., as a reply to this formula.
c1000Ags. Gosp. Matt. ii. 7 Herodes..befran hi ᵹeorne, hwænne se steorra hym æteowde. a1300Cursor M. 5446 Nou rek i neuer quen i dei. c1375in Horstmann Altengl. Leg. (1878) 124/1 Alle ȝe haue herd told & rad How & whanne god þis world mad. 1535Coverdale Lev. xiv. 57 That it maye be knowne, whan eny thinge is vncleane or cleane. 1676N. French Vnkinde Desertor i. 22 To know when to speake, and when to be silent. 1710Swift Jrnl. to Stella 7 Oct., I wonder when this letter will be finished. 1854R. S. Surtees Handley Cr. i. (1901) I. 11 He knew when to lay hold of his hounds, and when to let them alone. 1865Dickens Mut. Fr. iv. iii, Say when you've put it safe back, Mr. Venus.
a1225Ancr. R. 144 Deað þet we beoð siker of & unsiker hwonne. c1400Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1903) 263 Deȝe we ssulin sikerliche; bot god wot wanne & were. 1545R. Ascham Toxoph. ii. (Arb.) 125 Whych matter was onse excellentlye disputed vpon, in the Scooles, you knowe when. 1590Shakes. Com. Err. iii. i. 39 Ile tell you when, and you'll tell me wherefore. 1667Milton P.L. x. 499, I am to bruise his heel; His Seed, when is not set, shall bruise my head. 1779H. Walpole Let. to Selwyn 5 July, Can you tell me if the Duchess of Leinster still goes to Aubigny; and, if she does, when? 1828Hazlitt Self Love & Benev. Sk. & Ess. (1872) 104 What might be the consequence to myself the Lord knows when? 1883Stevenson Treas. Isl. xi, Well, now, if you want to know, I'll tell you when. The last moment I can manage; and that's when. 1888‘J. S. Winter’ Bootle's Childr. ii, I haven't seen such food I don't know when. 1889Mod. Society 6 June (Farmer's Slang) ‘Say when,’ said Bonko, taking up a flagon of whiskey and commencing to pour out the spirit into my glass. 1911Maclean's Mag. Oct. 297/2 ‘Say when?’ I held the glass with a shaking hand: ‘When.’ 1931A. Powell Afternoon Men i. 13 ‘Say when, sir,’ said the waiter. ‘When,’ said Pringle. 1948E. Waugh Loved One 3 ‘When,’ he added aside to the young man, who helped him to whisky. ‘Right up with soda, please.’
3. After a prep. (esp. since, till), in a direct or a dependent question: = What time?
Cf. F. depuis quand, G. seit wann.
a1300Cursor M. 5670 Sin quen was þou vr dempster? 1583B. Melbancke Philotimus N iv, If any circumstance of where, or when, or whome, may make a probable Argument. 1828Scott F.M. Perth xiv, Since when is it, good Father, that the principal libertine has altered his morals so much? 1861H. Kingsley Ravenshoe xix, ‘Since when have you missed her?’ ‘Since yesterday afternoon.’
II. Relative and conjunctive uses.
Formerly (now arch.) also followed by that (that conj. 6).
4. As compound relative (cf. what C.*), or as correlative to then (implied and sometimes expressed): At the (or a) time at which; on the (or an) occasion on which.
Also ellipt. with only the predicate expressed, e.g. when a boy = when he (I, etc.) was a boy; when cold = when it is cold.
a. In reference to a definite actual occurrence or fact, chiefly with verb in past tense: At the time that, on the occasion that; sometimes with verb in present tense = now that (sometimes with mixture of sense 9 a).
a1000Guthlac 209 Hwonne hy mid menᵹu maran cwome, þa þe for his life lyt sorᵹedon. c1250Gen. & Ex. 576 Sexe hundred ȝer noe was hold Quan he dede him in ðe archewold. a1300Cursor M. 8958 Quen þat sco to þe cite com Sco com in at þat ilk yatte, Þar þis tre lai in hir gatt. c1350Will. Palerne 2484 Wan þei þider come, Þei founde al awei fare. c1400Destr. Troy 1689 Qwhen this Citie was set..Then meuyt to his mynde [etc.]. c1420Sir Amadace xxix, Qwen he was gone on this kin wise, Thenne iche mon sayd thayre deuise. 1470–85Malory Arthur x. lxx. 536 Whanne he saw her make suche chere he ferd lyke a lyon that there myghte no man withstande hym. 1533Bellenden Livy v. xxiv. (S.T.S.) II. 230 We suld nocht leif oure ciete now quhen It hes sa mony ruynouss housis. 1577Hanmer Anc. Eccl. Hist. 239 When that he was certified..that the Ethnicks offred sacrifice..in that place..he sharply rebuked Eusebius. 1581Satir. Poems Reform. xliii. 154 Sone efter that the Counsell cround ȝoursell, Quhan godly Murray as a regent rang. 1605Shakes. Macb. ii. ii. 27 Listning their feare, I could not say Amen, When they did say God blesse vs. 1763J. Brown Poetry & Mus. v. 67 Music had then its greatest Power, when the Melody was most confined in its Compass. 1775Harris Philos. Arrangem. Wks. (1841) 339 It was by being attacked when asleep..that the gigantic Polypheme fell a sacrifice to Ulysses. 1779Mirror No. 23. ⁋3 He lost his father when an infant. 1848Thackeray Van. Fair liii, It was ten o'clock when he woke up. 1863Dickens Uncomm. Trav. xxvi, When I was a child..I used to think that I should like to play at Chinese Enchanter. 1894Baring-Gould Bk. Fairy T. 70 It is not the time for violets, when the snow lies deep?
(b) With ellipsis of following clause: in the past, in the old days (N. Amer. colloq.).
1962M. Richler in Kenyon Rev. Winter 88 Six months from now..I'll be saying I knew you when. 1968H. Waugh ‘30’ Manhattan East (1969) 163 She needn't try those airs with me. I knew her when. 1984M. Hinxman Night they murdered Chelsea viii. 65 The Hearst newspaper group are even flying in Gloria Beesley to cover the case. She knew Charlotte when.
b. In reference to a future time (whether in the present or the past).
971Blickl. Hom. 97 He sceal winnan & sorᵹian, hwonne se dæᵹ cume. c1275Lay. 643 He..þrettede þan castle, and þat folk wið ine, wanne he hit mihte awinne. c1350Leg. Rood (1871) 21 Vr lord bi-het me þere Wiþ Oyle of Milce smere me whonne hit tyme were. c1420Avow. Arth. xxiv, Quen thou art armut in thi gere, Take thi schild and thi spere. 1560Bible (Geneva) 1 Sam. iii. 12 When I begin, I wil also make an end. 1588Shakes. L.L.L. iv. iii. 145 What will Berowne say when that he shall heare Faith infringed? 1646in Row Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.) p. xxxi, I desyrit our people to convein quhen the bellis suld be rung. 1769Mrs. Raffald Eng. Housekpr. (1805) 109 When your head is boiled, rub it over with the yolk of an egg. a1814[see that conj. 6]. 1865Kingsley Herew. xxxi, Pray St. Etheldreda to be with us when the day shall come. 1889Tennyson Crossing the Bar 16, I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have crost the bar. 1915‘Ian Hay’ First Hundred Thou. ii. xx. 303 The Oxford Dictionary of the English Language will have to be revised and enlarged when this war is over.
c. Indefinitely or generally: At any time, or at the several times, at which; on any occasion that: most commonly with vb. in pres. tense.
c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 147 Wanne hie seȝen men wanred þolien oðer on sinne bifallen..þer-of hie hadden reuðe. c1220Bestiary 16 in O.E. Misc. 1 Wanne he is ikindled Stille lið ðe leun. a1250Owl & Night. 324 Ich singe an eue a riȝte time & soþþe won hit is bedtime. 1340Ayenb. 27 Huanne he yziȝþ oþer yherþ þe guod of oþren..þanne him comþ a zorȝe to þe herte. 1461Paston Lett. I. 541 To see that the contre be allweys redy to come bothe fote men and hors men, qwen they be sent for. 1553Respublica 894 Solace we muste nedes have whan that we are werie. 1591–5Spenser Astrophel 29 There was no pleasure nor delightfull play, When Astrophel so euer was away. 1639J. Clarke Parœm. 87 When God will, all winds bring raine. 1711Addison Spect. No. 26 ⁋7 When I look upon the tombs of the great, every emotion of envy dies in me. a1774Goldsm. Elegy Mrs. Mary Blaize 16 She never slumbered in her pew,—But when she shut her eyes. 1827Scott Highl. Widow v, The answers which he received from him, when conversing on religious topics. 1860Dickens Uncomm. Trav. ii, I am overpowered when I think of you and your hospitable home.
5. Introducing a clause as the object of a verb, or (later) governed by a preposition: = The or a time at which; † a case in which (cf. 8).
This use arises from the dependent interrog. use (sense 2), and the OE. examples are only particular cases of this.
971Blickl. Hom. 227 Hine ðæs heardost langode hwanne he of ðisse worulde moste. a1000Cædmon's Gen. 1433 Hæleð langode..hwonne hie of nearwe..stæppan mosten. c1375Cursor M. 5939 (Fairf.) Sette us terme & quenne [Cott. term wen] we salle pray for þe & þi men. c1412Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 113 Passe ouer whanne þis stormy nyght was gon, And day gan at my wyndowe in to prye. 1487Cely Papers (Camden) 166 They loke euery owre when the comens of the town schall ryse. 1568[see look v. 3 c]. 1603Shakes. Meas. for M. ii. ii. 11, I haue seene When after execution, Iudgement hath Repented ore his doome. 1648Herrick Hesper., To the Lark, And know thy when To say, Amen. 1689Milward Selden's Table-t. Ded., In your Fancy carry along with you, the When and the Why many of these things were spoken. 1838S. Sharpe Hist. Egypt under Ptol. 186 As to the when, the why, or by whom the pyramids were built. 1867Morris Jason xvii. 100 Since when I am dead, By none but him the people shall be led. 1868― Earthly Par. Prol. 202 Expecting when our turn shall come to die. 1884Dailys of Sodden Fen x, I was a grown young man of twenty by when it happened.
6. a. As simple relative (cf. what C.**): At which time, on which occasion; and then. Sometimes implying suddenness: = and just then, and at that moment.
a1000Cædmon's Gen. 1265 Siððan hundtwelftiᵹ ᵹeteled rime wintra on worulde wræce bisᵹedon fæᵹe þeoda; hwonne frea wolde on wærloᵹan wite settan. 1461Paston Lett. I. 541 Wrytyn the xxiij. day of Janware in haste, wan I was not well at hesse. 1562Winȝet Cert. Tractates Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 2 Haistelie maid one Pasche twisday,..1562, quhen thair apperit ane daingerous seditioun in Edinburgh. 1592Shakes. Ven. & Ad. 320 His testie maister goeth about to take him, When lo the vnbackt breeder full of feare,..swiftly doth forsake him. 1634Ford Perkin Warbeck ii. E 2 b, There haue been Irish-Hubbubs, when I haue made one too. 1711Budgell Spect. No. 77 ⁋1 We took a turn or two more, when, to my great Surprize, I saw him squirr away his Watch a considerable way into the Thames. 1780Mirror No. 78 ⁋3, I had not been above three years at college, when the death of an uncle put me in possession of a very considerable estate. 1820Keats Lamia ii. 26 There came reposed,..When from the slope side of a suburb hill,..came a thrill Of trumpets. 1893Law Times XCV. 62/2 An inspector..tested the drain, when he found that the joints of the pipes were not properly cemented. 1894Baring-Gould Bk. Fairy T. 58 Scarcely had she touched the spindle when she pierced her hand with it.
b. As quasi-pron. after a preposition (esp. since or till): = which time.
13..Cursor M. 20180 (B.M. Add. MS.) Haueþ he me sette any day Aȝens when I me greithe may? 1581A. Hall Iliad i. 12 But then a suter will I be, til when I wish (my child) You from the battayle do absteine. 1593Shakes. 3 Hen. VI ii. ii. 89 Ed. I was adopted Heire by his consent. Cla. Since when, his Oath is broke. 1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. 145 Since when it [sc. Persia] was vanquished by Tangrolipix the Turke, an. 1030. 1712S. Centlivre Perplex'd Lovers iii. i, Till when, thou Charmer of my Soul, Farewel. 1820Shelley Prometh. Unb. iii. ii. 40 Thy steeds will pause at even, till when farewell.
7. With time, day, etc. as antecedent: = at or on which.
The following OE. quot. exemplifies the kind of context out of which this constr. might arise:—Guthlac 82 Fyrst was on godes dome, hwonne Guðlace on his ondᵹietan engel sealde þæt [etc.].
c1200Ormin 133 Att ænne time whanne hiss lott Wass cumenn upp to þeowwtenn. a1300Cursor M. 19716 To wait þe time Quen þai moght cum to murther him. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. Prol. 1 In A somer sesun whon softe was þe sonne. 1406Hoccleve La Male Regle 326 Nat tell I can the tyme Whan they to bedde goon, it is so late. c1440Gesta Rom. xii. 38 (Harl. MS.) A day was set whanne the king shuld come and see hire. 1596Spenser F.Q. vi. vii. 32 On a day when Cupid kept his court. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 79 A time will come, when my maturer Muse, In Cæsar's Wars, a Nobler Theme shall chuse. 1788Cowper Let. to S. Rose 29 Mar., At all times, when it shall suit you to give us your company. 1845M. Pattison Ess. (1889) I. 9 The ages of faith, the ages when the Church bore sway over every action of life. 1865Newman Hist. Relig. Opin. iv. 201 Charges..which..I fully believed at the time when I made them. 1876Swinburne Note Engl. Repub. 16 Time was when England herself might have claimed..this noblest of human rights. 1876Meredith Beauch. Career iv, There are times when an example is needed.
8. a. With the notion of time modified by or merged in that of mere connexion: In the, or any, case or circumstances in which; sometimes nearly = if. Often ellipt. with only the predicate expressed.
The clause with when is often equivalent to a phrase with preposition and gerund (when he sees or saw = ‘on seeing’; when he says or said = ‘in saying’).
c1175Lamb. Hom. 153 Mildheortnesse me kuð him soluen, h[w]enne he him biþengð þet he isuneȝed haueð and þet sare bimurneð. c1220Bestiary 502 in O.E. Misc. 16 Ȝef ðu it soȝe wan it flet. 1357Lay Folk's Catech. (T.) 518 That is when we will noght do to god almighten,..That us augh for to do. 1370–80Visions St. Paul 198 in O.E. Misc. 228 He opened þe Mouþ of þat put, Hit stonk foule wȝon hit was vn-schut. c1400tr. Secr. Secr., Gov. Lordsh. 63 Ȝers and reals dedys shal bettir come to a kynges mynde whon enhyed. c1460Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. iv. (1885) 117 Whan a kynge rulith his reaume only to his owne profite..he is a tyrant. 1588A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. 181 The quhilk thing the scriptur meanes quhen it sayis [etc.]. 1591Shakes. Two Gent. v. iv. 44 Oh tis the curse in Loue..When women cannot loue, where they're belou'd. 1643Trapp Comm. Gen. xxxv. 1 God..takes his opportunity, (for we are best, when at worst). 1724De Foe Tour Gt. Brit. 15 When I have said this, I think I have done Malden Justice. 1781Cowper Table-T. 148 Most confident, when palpably most wrong. 1859Ruskin Two Paths i. §42 A painter designs when he chooses some things, refuses others, and arranges all. 1890J. Chamberlain Sp. 7 May in W. S. Lilly 1st Princ. Pol. 161 note, When great national interests are at stake,..the party system breaks down.
b. As simple relative (cf. 6): † (a) with case as antecedent: = in which: (b) in which case; whereupon; and then.
1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 2 Except in case whan you vnderstande not yt ye rede therin. 1803Med. Jrnl. X. 564 It may be opened with a lancet or a needle, when the fluid will run out. 1880Encycl. Brit. XI. 695/1 The ribbon..is sometimes couped or cut short, when it becomes a bâton.
9. With the notion of time passing into that of cause or contrast.
a. It being the case that, seeing that, considering that, inasmuch as, since. (Often, and now only, with implication of opposition or contrast, thus approaching b.)
c1230Hali Meid. 9 Hwen þus is of þe riche, hwat wenes tu of the poure? 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2215 Wanne ȝe abbeþ fourme of men, beþ men an alle wise. a1330Otuel 1272 Otuwel, whan it is so, Tak þe bataille a godes name. c1420Sir Amadace xxviii, Quat wundur were hit, thaȝhe him were wo, Quen alle his godus were spendutte him fro. 1591Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, iv. i. 112 What madnesse rules in braine-sicke men, When for so slight..a cause, Such factious æmulations shall arise? a1637B. Jonson Timber Wks. (1641) 118 And indeed when the attaining of them [sc. all knowledges] is possible, it were a sluggish and base thing to despaire. 1764Goldsm. Trav. 64 But where to find that happiest spot below, Who can direct, when all pretend to know? 1865Dickens Mut. Fr. iv. iii, What's the good of my pretending to stand out, when I can't help myself? 1886[E. H. Dering] In Light of 20th Cent. iv. 85 ‘If you would only..look at the question without prejudice—’ ‘Prejudice! I like that, when you are full of prejudices about it.’
b. In adversative sense: While on the other hand, while on the contrary, whereas.
† In quot. c 1489 = although.
1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 7770 Hii wolde euere abbe ynou, wanne þe pouere adde wo. c1489Caxton Sonnes of Aymon vi. 153 And whan the kyng gaaff you not his suster but a simple damoysell, yet oughte you to beleve hym. a1568R. Ascham Scholem. ii. (Arb.) 145 To follow rather the Gothes in Ryming, than the Greekes in trew versifiyng, were euen to eate ackornes with swyne, when we may freely eate wheate bread emonges men. 1610Shakes. Temp. ii. i. 139 You rub the sore, When you should bring the plaister. a1654Selden Table-T. (1689) 26 Little things do great works, when great things will not. 1725Ramsay Gentle Sheph. iv. ii, An estate like yours yields braw content, When we but pike it scantly on the bent. 1836Marryat Japhet lvii, I..received fifty shillings, when I ought to have received, at least, ten pounds. 1888F. Harrison Cromwell vi. 118 He was solemnly debating a treaty, when he never intended to keep any treaty at all.
III. Indefinite and substantival uses.
†10.
a. adv. At some time (only OE. with nú, seld(um); when and when, at one time and another, now and then. Obs. rare.
c900tr. Bæda's Hist. ii. i. (1890) 94 He nu hwonne on þam ilcan bið on wuldre arisende mid oþrum hyrdum þære halᵹan cyricean. c1470Harding Chron. cxxi. iv, And Scottes also that false wer when and when.
b. As the second element of a compound: see anywhen, aywhen, elsewhen, everywhen, nowhen, seld-when, somewhen.
11. as n. The time at which something happens (or did or will happen): = time when (see 7); also vaguely, Time, duration.
Often conjoined with where or how similarly used.
1616B. Jonson Epigr. xxxiii. Wks. 777 Thou art but gone before, Whither the world must follow. And I, now, Breathe to expect my when, and make my how. 1765Sterne Tr. Shandy VII. xxi, The gardener..troubled his head very little with the hows and whens of life. 1819Shelley Ode to Heaven 6 Deep, immeasurable vast, Which art now, and which wert then Of the Present and the Past, Of the eternal Where and When. 1864Newman Apol. vi. 362, I have very little reason to doubt about the issue of things, but the when and the how are known to Him. 1867Carlyle E. Irving in Remin. (1881) 101 The when of my first call there I do not now remember. 1885Tennyson Anc. Sage 104 Thin minds, who creep from thought to thought, Break into ‘Thens’ and ‘Whens’ the Eternal Now.
▪ II. when
var. whenne Obs., whence. |