| 释义 |
whichadj.pron. Forms: 1.α. Old English chuælc (Northumbrian), Old English chuelc (Northumbrian), Old English huælc (Northumbrian), Old English huælcelcre (Northumbrian, dative singular feminine, strong declension, transmission error), Old English huecl (Northumbrian, probably transmission error), Old English huelc (chiefly Northumbrian), Old English huęlc (Northumbrian), Old English huoelc (Northumbrian), Old English huoelce (Northumbrian), Old English hwæl (Northumbrian, perhaps transmission error), Old English hwælc (chiefly Anglian), Old English hwelc (chiefly early and Anglian), Old English hweolc- (inflected form, in a transcript of a lost MS), Old English welc- (Northumbrian, in a compound), Old English (Northumbrian, perhaps transmission error) Middle English (in a copy of an Old English charter) huel, early Middle English hwælch (south-east midlands), early Middle English qwel (East Anglian, perhaps transmission error). eOE (Mercian) Vespasian Psalter (1965) xviii. 12 [13] Delicta quis intellegit : scylde hwelc ongeteð?OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Mark xii. 19 Si cuius frater mortuus fuerit : gef huælc uel ænig broðer dead sie uel bið.a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 21 An hwælche wise ic mihte betst sahtlin wið mine halend Criste.a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 170 Qwel [emended in ed. to Qwelc] man mai sen on werlde her. β. Chiefly East Anglian, midlands, and southern. Middle English qheche, Middle English quech, Middle English queche, Middle English qwech, Middle English qweche, Middle English qwhech, Middle English qwheche, Middle English wache (East Anglian), Middle English wecche, Middle English wech, Middle English weche, Middle English wesche, Middle English whech, Middle English wheche, Middle English wheeche, late Middle English wheoche, late Middle English whethe (transmission error). 1348 in C. Welch Hist. Pewterers of London (1902) I. 2 In pte of the wheche iij metals they make vessel.1387 in F. J. Furnivall Fifty Earliest Eng. Wills (1882) 2 The cheste..weche they haue of myn.1389 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 34 Alle the bretheren þe wache þe halderman of this gilde sendit fore shullen ben redy at that day that he sendit for hem.1461 J. Smyth in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 232 I am enformyd, ye schall recuuere of hard, and but a part, the qwech schuld be dere of the sute. γ. northern and north midlands Middle English quelk, Middle English qwelk, Middle English qweylke, Middle English welk, Middle English welke; Scottish pre-1700 qhuelk, pre-1700 queilks (plural), pre-1700 quhelk, pre-1700 qwhelk, pre-1700 qwhelkis (plural), pre-1700 wealk. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 27236 Þe prest agh spire..of men þat ar in religioun quelk reccheles prelatis is.1435 in W. H. Stevenson Rec. Borough Nottingham (1883) II. 360 A medow plat..quelk ye Bryge Maysters ocupyis.1540 in J. Stuart Extracts Council Reg. Aberdeen (1844) I. 169 On the queilks they tuk nott.a1687 in J. B. Craven Hist. Church in Orkney, 1662–88 (1893) 118 Quhelk if he doe not.?a1700 Crail Squaremen in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue (at cited word) The wealk day. δ. Scottish pre-1700 quheke. 1585 in Cal. State Papers Scotl. (1914) VIII. 107 I..recommend the berare..and his honest actionis unto your honors protection quheke he hes to suit in England. 2.α. early Old English hwilic- (inflected form), Old English hilc (rare), Old English hwil (perhaps transmission error), Old English hwilce (rare), Old English–early Middle English hwilc, Old English (chiefly late)–early Middle English wilc, late Old English hwicle (accusative singular neuter, transmission error), late Old English hwilcc- (inflected form, perhaps transmission error), early Middle English hlich (transmission error), early Middle English hlyc (transmission error), early Middle English hlylce (plural, transmission error), early Middle English hwil- (in compounds), early Middle English hwilch, early Middle English hwilche, early Middle English hwillc- (inflected form), early Middle English hwillich- (inflected form, perhaps transmission error), early Middle English hwyl- (inflected form, perhaps transmission error), early Middle English hwyl (perhaps transmission error), early Middle English hwylc, early Middle English hwyle (perhaps transmission error), early Middle English hwyllc, early Middle English hylc, early Middle English hyylc- (inflected form, perhaps transmission error), early Middle English vilch- (inflected form), early Middle English whilc, early Middle English whilg, early Middle English whillc ( Ormulum), early Middle English wil (perhaps transmission error), early Middle English wilch- (inflected form), early Middle English wlych (transmission error), early Middle English wylc, Middle English whilch, Middle English wilche. In the early Middle English form hyylc- in a late copy of material of Old English composition perhaps with the letter form y representing wynn, unless it is a transmission error.eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) (2009) I. xxi. 480 Hwilc ure mæg areccan medemlice ures scyppendes willan?OE (Mercian) Rushw. Gospels: Matt. xxi. 24 In qua potestate haec facio : in wilce mæhte ic þas do.c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 471–2 Prestess..& dæcness..Shifftedenn hemm bitwenenn. Whillc here shollde serrfenn firrst Whillc siþþenn i þe temmple.a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 77 Whilch lean aust ðu te hauen of godd?c1450 Bk. Marchalsi (Harl. 6398) (1973) f. 13v Maister, of wilche cuntre ben the best hors? β. early Middle English -fiche- (in compounds), early Middle English hwic, early Middle English hwice, early Middle English hwyc (perhaps transmission error), early Middle English hyc- (inflected form, perhaps transmission error), early Middle English þich (perhaps transmission error), early Middle English wic, Middle English ȝwich (south-western), Middle English ȝwych (south-western), Middle English huich, Middle English huych, Middle English hwich, Middle English hwych, Middle English hwyche, Middle English qhiche, Middle English qhwych, Middle English qhych, Middle English qhyche, Middle English quich, Middle English quiche, Middle English quych, Middle English quyche, Middle English qwhich, Middle English qwhiche, Middle English qwhych, Middle English qwhyche, Middle English qwich, Middle English qwiche, Middle English qwycche, Middle English qwych, Middle English qwyche, Middle English qwyhych, Middle English vhich, Middle English vich, Middle English viche, Middle English vyche, Middle English whic, Middle English whicch, Middle English whicche, Middle English whice, Middle English whichee (perhaps transmission error), Middle English whitche, Middle English white (transmission error), Middle English whycche, Middle English whyte (transmission error), Middle English wiche, Middle English witche, Middle English wycche, Middle English wyhche, Middle English wysche, Middle English–1500s wycch, Middle English–1500s wych, Middle English–1500s wyche, Middle English–1600s whiche, Middle English–1600s whych, Middle English–1600s whyche, Middle English–1600s (1700s– nonstandardand regional) wich, Middle English– which, late Middle English qwche (East Anglian, probably transmission error), late Middle English qwhicc (east midlands), late Middle English qwice (perhaps transmission error), late Middle English wchych (transmission error), late Middle English whche (perhaps transmission error), late Middle English whyce (northern and south-western), late Middle English whychy (transmission error), late Middle English wihch (perhaps transmission error), late Middle English wihche (perhaps transmission error), late Middle English wyge, 1500s whitch, 1800s–1900s w'ich (regional), 1900s– fich (Irish English (northern)); Scottish pre-1700 huyche, pre-1700 qhich, pre-1700 qhiche, pre-1700 quhich, pre-1700 quhiche, pre-1700 quhitch, pre-1700 quhitche, pre-1700 quich, pre-1700 quiche, pre-1700 quisch, pre-1700 quitch, pre-1700 quitche, pre-1700 quwiche, pre-1700 qwhich, pre-1700 qwich, pre-1700 qwiche, pre-1700 uich, pre-1700 vhich, pre-1700 vich, pre-1700 whiche, pre-1700 whis, pre-1700 whitch, pre-1700 whitche, pre-1700 wich, pre-1700 wiche, pre-1700 wische, pre-1700 wuhich, pre-1700 1700s– which; N.E.D. (1923) also records a form late Middle English qwychee. Early Middle English hwyc is attested in a late copy of material of Old English composition (see quot. c1175); compare hwyc- at Forms 3β. . Early Middle English þich perhaps reflects lack of distinction between the letter forms of thorn and wynn on the part of the scribe.c1175 ( West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Royal) xiv. 31 Hwyc cyning [OE Corpus Cambr. gyf hwylc cynincg wyle faran].a1225 (?OE) MS Vesp. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 239 Wic ȝeie, wic drednesse wurð þer.c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 326 Vor to wite in ȝwiche stede is woniigge were.1415 in 43rd Ann. Rep. Deputy Keeper Public Rec. (1882) App. i. 584 in Parl. Papers (C. 3425) XXXVI. 1 On ye morou ye Fryday ye quich was yis day fourteneghte.1551 R. Crowley Pleasure & Payne sig. Aviv Ye..wych wythout me had come to nought.1615 in J. R. N. Macphail Highland Papers (1920) III. 263 Whiche traid I abhore.1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 82 During which time the Ship broke in Pieces.1847 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) xxxviii. 381 ‘A which?’ says the Cap'en.1950 Pioneer (Kingston, Jamaica) 55 Wich one a we more foo-fooler?2011 Daily Tel. 22 July 25/3 There seems little point in the Queen and the Worshipful Company of Vintners sorting out whose swan is which. γ. Chiefly northern, midlands, and East Anglian. early Middle English ȝhwilk, early Middle English hwilk- (inflected form), early Middle English hyylk- (inflected form, in a copy of an Old English charter), early Middle English whillk- ( Ormulum, inflected form), early Middle English wihlc, Middle English qhilke, Middle English qhylk, Middle English quhylk, Middle English quil (perhaps transmission error), Middle English quilc (East Anglian and northern), Middle English quilk, Middle English quilke, Middle English quylk, Middle English quylke, Middle English qwhilk, Middle English qwhilke, Middle English qwhylk, Middle English qwilk, Middle English qwilke, Middle English qwyilk, Middle English qwylk, Middle English qwylke, Middle English þhilk (in a copy of an Old English charter), Middle English þilk (in a copy of an Old English charter), Middle English whilc (northern), Middle English whylke, Middle English wihilk, Middle English wilk, Middle English wilke, Middle English wyilke, Middle English wylk, Middle English wylke, Middle English–1500s whilke, Middle English–1500s (1600s English regional) whylk, Middle English–1600s (1700s–1900s English regional (northern)) whilk, late Middle English quyk (transmission error), late Middle English whylc (north-east midlands), late Middle English wihlke, late Middle English wlike (transmission error), late Middle English wyhlk; Scottish pre-1700 qhilk, pre-1700 qhuilk, pre-1700 qhuylk, pre-1700 qhuylke, pre-1700 qhwylk, pre-1700 quhilkes (plural), pre-1700 quhilkis (plural), pre-1700 quhilks (plural), pre-1700 quhilkys (plural), pre-1700 quhillk, pre-1700 quhillkis (plural), pre-1700 quhilque, pre-1700 quhylk, pre-1700 quhylke, pre-1700 quhylkis (plural), pre-1700 quhylks (plural), pre-1700 quhylkys (plural), pre-1700 quihilk, pre-1700 quihilkis (plural), pre-1700 quilk, pre-1700 quilkes (plural), pre-1700 quilkis (plural), pre-1700 quilks (plural), pre-1700 quyilk, pre-1700 quylk, pre-1700 quylke, pre-1700 quylkys (plural), pre-1700 qvhilk, pre-1700 qvhilke, pre-1700 qvylk, pre-1700 qvylke, pre-1700 qvylkys (plural), pre-1700 qwhilk, pre-1700 qwhilke, pre-1700 qwhilkes (plural), pre-1700 qwhilkis (plural), pre-1700 qwhilks (plural), pre-1700 qwhilkys (plural), pre-1700 qwhylk, pre-1700 qwhylke, pre-1700 qwhylkis (plural), pre-1700 qwhylkys (plural), pre-1700 qwilk, pre-1700 qwilke, pre-1700 qwilkes (plural), pre-1700 qwilkis (plural), pre-1700 qwylk, pre-1700 qwylke, pre-1700 qwylkis (plural), pre-1700 qwylks (plural), pre-1700 qwylkys (plural), pre-1700 uhilk, pre-1700 vhilk, pre-1700 vhilks (plural), pre-1700 vhuilk, pre-1700 whilke, pre-1700 whilkes (plural), pre-1700 whilkis (plural), pre-1700 whylk, pre-1700 1700s quhilk, pre-1700 1700s quhilke, pre-1700 1700s whilks (plural), pre-1700 1700s– whilk, 1800s filk, 1900s fill (before a vowel); Irish English (northern) 1900s– whilk. Early Middle English hyylk- in a late copy of an Old English charter is apparently to be interpreted as hwylk-, although it is uncertain whether the scribe is using the letter form to represent wynn or whether wynn of the source has been misread. Middle English þhilk and þilk also in a late copy of an Old English charter perhaps reflect lack of distinction between the letter forms of thorn and wynn on the part of the scribe, unless these forms are due to confusion with thilk adj. and pron.c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 5283 O whillkess kinness wise.a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 125 Gif þu wilt witen wilke eiȝene ðe hierte muȝe habben.?a1300 ( Writ of Gospatric (Sawyer 1243) in D. A. Woodman Charters of Northern Houses (2012) (corrected text) 370 Loc hwylkun [MS hyylkun] byn [þe] þar bydann geyldfreo beo swa ic byn.1387 in J. D. Marwick Charters Edinb. (1871) 35 In fourme the qwylk eftir folowys.1424 in F. J. Furnivall Fifty Earliest Eng. Wills (1882) 57 I wul my wyf haf my best ambeler, and my sone..wylk him likeþ best.a1592 R. Greene Sc. Hist. Iames IV (1598) sig. D Sike is the werld, but whilke is he I sawe.a1643 W. Cartwright Ordinary (1651) iv. i. 60 Lere me whylk way he wended.1724 A. Ramsay Vision in Ever Green I. xvii Starrie gleims, Quhilk prinkled.1819 W. Scott Legend of Montrose iii, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. III. 195 Their damnable skirlin' pipes, whilk they themselves pretend to understand.1983 W. L. Lorimer & R. L. C. Lorimer New Test. in Scots 2 Pet. ii. 18 Lang-nebbit dictionar wurds whilk hae mair syllables nor sense i them. δ. Chiefly northern. late Middle English qwhik, late Middle English qwyk, late Middle English qwyke, late Middle English whik, late Middle English whike; Scottish pre-1700 quhic, pre-1700 quhik, pre-1700 quhyk, pre-1700 quike, pre-1700 qwicke. a1500 (a1425) Metrical Life St. Robert of Knaresborough (1953) l. 1009 To the whike he bryng yow all and me.1584 in Cal. State Papers Scotl. (1913) VII. 57 Ane letter inclosit from Ester Wemes qwicke I haif noct resavit.1617 in H. Paton Suppl. Rep. MSS Earl of Mar & Kellie (1930) 78 The xi of Julie Pitmillie randrit his spreit, quike was no litle greife to us all. 3.α. Old English hlyc (transmission error), Old English hwyl (perhaps transmission error), Old English hwylc, Old English hwylce, Old English hwyllc (rare), Old English hylc (chiefly late), Old English wylc (rare), late Old English hlylce (dative singular masculine, transmission error), late Old English hyl (transmission error), early Middle English hulch, early Middle English hwlc (perhaps transmission error), early Middle English hwulc, early Middle English hwulch, early Middle English hwylch, early Middle English hwylecwe (dative singular feminine, transmission error), early Middle English whul (perhaps transmission error), early Middle English whulc, early Middle English whulch- (inflected form), early Middle English wlch- (inflected form), early Middle English wuhlc, early Middle English wulc, early Middle English wulch- (inflected form), Middle English whulche. In Middle English chiefly south-west midlands.eOE (Kentish) Will of Ealdorman Ælfred (Sawyer 1508) in N. P. Brooks & S. E. Kelly Charters of Christ Church Canterbury, Pt. 2 (2013) 810 Swa hwylc mon swa hio wonie & breoce.a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 49 Nu ȝe habbeð iherd wulc hit is for to iheren godes weordes and heom ethalden.c1390 Life St. Alexius (Vernon) (1878) l. 207 I wolde fayn, & i wuste whulche. β. Chiefly midlands and southern. Old English hwyc- (inflected form, perhaps transmission error), early Middle English ȝwuch, early Middle English hwch, early Middle English hwuc, early Middle English hwucch- (inflected form), early Middle English hwuch, early Middle English wucch- (inflected form), Middle English hucche, Middle English huch, Middle English huche, Middle English husche, Middle English voche, Middle English wȝuch, Middle English wȝuche, Middle English wȝusch, Middle English whoch, Middle English whoche, Middle English whuc (perhaps transmission error), Middle English whuch, Middle English whuche, Middle English woch, Middle English woche, Middle English wuch, Middle English wuche, late Middle English whuce (perhaps transmission error). OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxix. 422 For hwycum [OE Cambr. Gg.3.28 hwilcum] þingum neadað se deofol eow?a1200 (?OE) MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 189 To-genes hwuch fo man agh furðien seið þe holi apostle.c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) l. 1378 Bo wuch ho bo.c1390 Castle of Love (Vernon) (1967) l. 110 Allas! wȝuch serwe and deol þer wes.a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 143 Wylde bestis, amonge woche euery olt hym abow hym to whome he is prere. γ. north-east midlands Middle English wholke, late Middle English whulke; Scottish pre-1700 quholk, pre-1700 qulk, 1800s–1900s whulk. 1507 Rec. Dumfries Burgh Court f. 2, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue (at cited word) Quholk daye it is assigned Will Scott till acquhit hym lachfully.1625 in Sc. Notes & Queries (1929) 3rd Ser. 7 122 In tyme of Kasting of the qulk pleit I send ane just patirne and scowal thairoff.1805 J. Nicol Poems II. 9 But now arriv'd the day, for whulk They made sic preparations.1915 J. Wilson Lowland Scotch Lower Strathearn 79 Whulk ane o ye's comin wi me? In early use sometimes also represented by the abbreviations wch, wc, wh, qch, qch., qch, qk, qlk, qlk, and variants. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian hwelik , hwelek , hwelk , hwek , welik , welk , wilk , hulk , huk , hok , etc. (West Frisian hok , hûk ), Old Dutch welik (Middle Dutch welc , welk , Dutch welk ), Old Saxon hwilīk (Middle Low German welk , wilk ), Old High German hwelīh , welīh , hwilīh , wilīh (Middle High German welich , welch , wilich , wilch , German welch ), Old Swedish hvilikin , hulkin , holkin , hokken (Swedish vilken ), Old Danish huilken, huikken (Danish hvilken ), Gothic hwileiks , reflecting two distinct Germanic formations (one in *a and the other in *i ) both ultimately < forms of the pronominal stem reflected by who pron. + the Germanic base of lich n.Compare also Gothic hwēleiks (showing the instrumental hwē as first element), Old Icelandic hvílíkr (showing hví , the dative of hvat , as first element, or perhaps simply altered by association with this). For the Old English compounded forms gehwilc and ǣghwilc see each adj. and pron. Form history. Types 1 and 2 in the listing of Forms reflect the two distinct Germanic formations (in *a and *i respectively); type 3 developed from type 2 (in Old English) through rounding of the vowel after preceding -w- . With the loss of l shown by Forms 1β. , 1δ. , 2β. , 2δ. , 3β. , including the usual modern form which , compare similarly such adj. and pron. (Loss of w , as shown by such adj. and pron., is rare among the forms of this word; compare Middle English forms of the types hulch , huch at Forms 3α. , 3β. .) With forms showing failure of palatalization of the final consonant (which are chiefly northern, in Middle English also East Anglian) compare swilk adj., pron., and adv. and sic adj. Use in the which. It is uncertain to what extent use in the which (i.e. with preceding definite article) is modelled on Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French lequel (French lequel) in similar uses, and to what extent it shows an independent development (perhaps partly motivated by earlier use of se þe in Old English and early Middle English). A. adj. ( determiner). I. Interrogative and allied uses. the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > [adjective] > indicating questions the world > relative properties > kind or sort > [adjective] > of this kind > of what or which kind the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > types of choice > [adjective] > selecting > which of a number eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory (Hatton) (1871) lxv. 467 Ðær ic hæbbe getæht hwelc hierde bion sceal. OE (Corpus Cambr.) vii. 39 Gyf þe man witega wære, witodlice he wiste hwæt & hwylc þis wif wære þe his æthrinþ þæt heo synful is. lOE tr. Honorius Augustodunensis Elucidarium in R. D.-N. Warner (1917) 144 Hwylce wlite hæfde he æfter þan æriste? ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 53 Wenne godes prophete makede þulli mon of eche hwic man wenest þu þet beo icumen tomoni mon & sorege of heore echȝe. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 5047 Men..talden him tiðende. of alle þere fore þe Petrus dude in Rome. and whulcne [c1300 Otho wochne] martirdom Petrus hauede vnder-fon. a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 3212 Ðor he stunden for to sen Quilc pharaon wið hem sal ben. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) l. 1189 So hii miȝte lerni wiche brutons were. c1390 (Vernon) (1967) l. 53 To wȝuche a castel he alihte, Þo he wolde here for vs fihte. a1425 (c1395) (Royal) (1850) James i. 24 Anoon he forȝat which he was. a1475 Bk. Curtasye (Sloane 1986) l. 301 in (2002) i. 308 To aske his nome, and qweche he be. a1500 (?a1425) tr. (Lamb.) 104 Whiche ys þy fayth, and þy lawe? 2. Used in asking the identity of a choice made from an indefinite set of alternatives: what —— out of all possible ones. Now only in contexts where it is indistinguishable from sense A. 3, as in some uses of which direction, which way, etc. eOE tr. Bede (Tanner) iv. xxv. 348 Hwylc þearf is ðe husles? OE Ælfric Interrogationes Sigewulfi in Genesin (Corpus Cambr. 162) xx in (1884) 7 12 Hwylces gecyndes is seo heofon? Fyres gecyndes. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1978) l. 10346 For whulches cunnes þinge ligge we þus here. c1300 in C. Brown (1932) 75 Wichewise sold ichs beren child with-huten manne? a1450 (Vesp.) (1902) l. 95 (MED) Whilk man is he þat lyf wyl haue? 1598 W. Shakespeare iv. i. 102 Clow. From my Lord to my Ladie. Quee. From which Lord, to which Ladie? View more context for this quotation 1794 tr. Terence Eunuch ii. in 65 Par. What wou'd you say now, if you were that blessed Creature? Che. Which way [L. qua re]? Speak, dear Rogue. 2011 B. Rooney & M. L. Belli iv. 37 In which direction in the universe of choices do you want your department heads to go? OE Wærferð tr. Gregory (Hatton) (1900) ii. xxxv. 172 Ne..ic beþencean ne cann, hwylcere endebyrdnysse hit beon mæge, þæt fram anum men si gesewen eall middaneard. a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris (1873) 2nd Ser. 33 Þe engel..seweð a whilche wise and þuregh hwam þis blisse cumen sholde. c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) l. 2323 in C. Horstmann (1887) 173 It was wel onder-stonde..In ȝwat manere he was a-slawe and ȝwuch tyme he was ded. c1300 Judas Iscariot (Harl.) l. 101 in F. J. Furnivall (1862) 110 Siþþe ic fond mie louerd aslawe, y not in whiche wise. a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Comm. on Canticles (Univ. Oxf. 64) in (1884) 515 He leryd him in whilk degre or state and how he sould luf him. 1715 J. Leoni tr. Palladio (1745) II. 65 Nor ought any one to wonder, which way such vast Quantities of earthen Ware came here. 1752 Ld. Chesterfield 25 Dec. (1932) (modernized text) V. 1986 In some congratulatory poem prefixed to some work, I have forgot which. 1993 11 Dec. 19/1 This tells other worker bees how far to fly and in which direction. 3. Used in asking the identity of a choice made from a definite (stated or implied) set of alternatives: what —— out of these or those ones. Cf. what adj.1 1. (Now the predominant use of the adjective.) Sometimes, as in some uses of which way, indistinguishable from sense A. 2.OE Ælfric (Royal) (1997) xx. 342 On hwilcum dæle hæfð se man Godes anlicnysse on him? On þære sawle na on þam lichaman. OE (Corpus Cambr.) xii. 11 Hwylc man ys of eow þe hæbbe an sceap, & gyf þæt afylð restedagum on pytt hu ne nymð he þæt & hefþ hyt upp? c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 158 Whilk wey is he gane. 1535 2 Kings iii. 8 Which waye wil we go vp? 1612 B. Jonson i. iii. sig. C3 Svb... I knew't, by certaine spotts too, in his teeth, And on the nayle of his Mercurial finger. Fac. Which finger's that? Svb. His little finger. 1667 J. Milton iv. 73 Which way shall I flie..? View more context for this quotation 1860 28 July 382 ‘Which knot?’ asked Toby. ‘Single or double wall, single or double diamond, Matthew Walker, spritsail-sheet, stopper, or shroud?’ 1916 T. R. Glover iv. 70 When the question is asked, ‘Was Jesus the Messiah?’ the obvious reply is, ‘Which Messiah?’ 2015 K. Kwan ii. i. 119 Which province of China did your family originate from? OE Byrhtferð (Ashm.) (1995) ii. i. 80 Heræfter we wyllað eow amearkian hwylce monðas habbað þrittig nihta ealdne monan, hwylce nigon and twentig. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) l. 4507 In woch half turne he nuste þo weþer est þe west. a1500 (c1477) T. Norton (BL Add.) (1975) l. 1632 (MED) Of this erth shewith Alberte, oure grete brodire, In his Minerals, whiche litarge is better than odire. c1540 (?a1400) (2002) f. 204 Þen þai fraynet qwiche freke þat schuld first enter. 1562 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tounge (new ed.) ii. vii, in sig. I iv I know on which syde my bread is buttred. 1600 W. Shakespeare ii. ix. 11 Neuer to vnfold to any one which casket twas I chose. View more context for this quotation 1770 S. Foote ii. 31 A wise man should well weigh which party to take for. 1882 W. Besant II. xxi. 103 Bound for some American port, I forget which. 1983 P. Larkin Let. 6 Jan. in (1992) 687 Like being asked which arm and which leg you want to lose. 2008 18 Oct. a5/5 ‘Joe the Plumber’ and other small business owners want to know which presidential candidate would give them the best deal on taxes. †II. Exclamatory use. eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius (Otho) (2009) I. viii. 416 Hwelce [ceh]hettunge ge wold[an] þ[æ]s ha[bb]an, and mid hwelce hleahtre ge woldon bion astered [L. quanto mouereris cachinno]. OE Wærferð tr. Gregory (Corpus Cambr.) (1900) i. v. 44 Ongyt nu, Petrus, hwylcre geearnunge þes wær wære. a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 19 Nimað ȝeme..hwilche ȝife he us ȝefeð. ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 183 Lokeð nu ȝeorne..hwich an marke [c1230 Corpus Cambr. hwuch a mearke] he leide up on his icorne þoa he stech in to heoue. c1300 11000 Virgins (Laud) l. 60 in C. Horstmann (1887) 88 Louerd, ȝwuch a compaygnie of clene maidenes was þere! c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) l. 7237 Hii seye þe soþnesse In wuch lecherie & oþer sunne þe prestes songe hor messe. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. x. l. 27 Whiche lordes beth þis shrewes! c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 734 Lo which a wyf was Alceste. c1450 tr. G. Deguileville (Cambr.) (1869) 139 Harrow which gret woodshipe is this. c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) l. 1807 He tellis quyche a tunne of tresoure he hauys. c1450 (1900) 102 Lo, whiche a worschip sche hadde, & whiche a ioye. †III. As an indefinite adjective. eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory (Hatton) (1871) lii. 405 Gif hwelc wif forlæt hiere ceorl, & nimð hire oðerne, wenestu recce he hire æfre ma? eOE tr. Bede (Tanner) iv. iii. 270 Hwæðer he þæt bi him seolfum cwæde þe bi oðrum men hwelcum, þæt us is uncuð. OE (Corpus Cambr.) xxviii. 52 Gif hwylc broðor oftrædlice geþread for hwylcum gylte [a1225 Winteney for hwylcum ȝilte] bið. c1175 ( Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine (1993) 143 Gif hit þonne hwylcum men on his mode to earfoþlic..þynce, tylie he þæt he hyre þone teoþe dæl..feste. IV. Relative uses. †* As nominal relative in generalized sense. Some cases may be viewed as showing ellipsis of an antecedent.the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > qualification > [adjective] > not subjected OE (Corpus Cambr.) xv. 5 Swa hwylc lac swa [c1200 Hatton swa hwilc lac swa; L. munus quodcumque] of me is fremaþ þe.] lOE (Laud) (Peterborough interpolation) anno 675 Hwilc man swa haued behaten to faren to Rome and he ne muge hit forðian. ?a1200 ( tr. Pseudo-Apuleius (Harl. 6258B) xc. 131 Þone deah hit him wið hyylcum earfuðum swa [OE Vitell. swa hwylcum earfoðum swa] hym innan byð. a1250 (?a1200) (Nero) (1952) 3 O hwuche wise se heo euer wule. a1300 (c1275) (1991) l. 3 Bi wilc weie so he wile. 1405 in H. M. Flasdieck (1926) 41 (MED) And qwho so do the contrarye shal forfet his parte or profytz abuf said, be it more or lesse, after the quantite askit of qwhich partie so it be. 1581 H. Goldwell sig. A vv Thereto had prouided a frame of wood which was couered with Canuas..and caried the name of a Rowling trench, which went on wheeles, which way soeuer ye persons with in did driue it. 1633 G. Herbert Home in ix Nothing but drought and dearth,..Which way so-e're I look, I see. 1667 J. Milton iv. 75 Which way I flie is Hell; my self am Hell. View more context for this quotation 1676 A. Marvell sig. I [Some] like cunning Betters, sate judiciously hedging, and so ordered their matters that which side soever prevail'd, they would be sure to be the Winners. 1753 S. Johnson No. 69. ⁋10 Which way soever he turned his thoughts, impossibility and absurdity arose in opposition. 1823 W. Scott II. iii. 60 [He] lets a' things about the Manse gang whilk gate they will. 1844 S. R. Maitland xv. 243 The table was so large that, place it which way they would, it could not be prevented from shewing above water. 1876 Ld. Tennyson ii. ii. 48 But wherefore is the wind, Which way soever the vane-arrow swing, Not ever fair for England? ** As simple relative. 7. As relative adjective, introducing a clause and modifying a noun referring to (and esp.) summing up the details of the antecedent in the preceding clause or sentence, e.g. I generally keep them nine to ten months, by which time they are very large. Formerly in Scottish with plural inflection -s, -is: see Forms.For the construction with a preposition, cf. sense B. 4a.lOE Writ of Edward the Confessor (Sawyer 1098) in F. E. Harmer (1952) 219 For hwilcæ neodlicum þingan [L. pro qua necessaria re] icc kyþe eow eallum þæt icc ann [etc.]. a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 27 Þesne mon ic habbe itaken to mine aȝene bihosþe [read bihofþe]. Ma monna ic scolde biȝeten swa bi hulche monna seið drihten in his spelle þa he þus cweþ [etc.]. c1275 Kentish Serm. in J. Hall (1920) I. 217 Lecherie, spusbreche, Roberie..and alle oþre euele deden, þurch wyche þinkes man ofserueth þet fer of helle. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) iii. l. 2527 Er that thou falle in homicide, Which Senne is now so general. c1400 (Rawl. B. 171) 229 His flesshe was restorede aȝein..for whiche miracle þe good man & his frendes louede God. ?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden (Harl. 2261) (1869) II. 101 The thrydde realme was of Estesex..The kynges of whiche place..were obediente to other kynges. 1584 King James VI & I sig. Kijv They are figures of Rhetorique and Dialectique, quhilkis airtis I professe nocht. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. ii. 278 She did confine thee..Into a clouen Pyne, within which rift Imprison'd, thou didst painefully remaine A dozen yeeres. View more context for this quotation 1631 in W. Stevenson (1900) 34 Whilks penalties shalbe taken up be the masters and principals of the ground in landward. 1719 D. Defoe 82 It rain'd all Night and all Day,..during which time the Ship broke in Pieces. 1800 W. Wordsworth in W. Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge II. 1 The monuments spoken of in the second Part of the following Poem, which monuments do now exist as I have there described them. 1892 II. 883 A 5 × 4 camera..(which size is now the most popular). 1941 29 June (This Week section) 9/3 From the bush, by which name the Australian designates the great outback of his continent, comes a cry that rings of home to all Australians. 2005 R. Nidel ii. 100 He..worked in the steel mills with his father, at which time he began to sing and write songs. c1379 in G. D. MacRae (1975) No. 1 The qvylk payment sa made I will at the landys be haldyn eftyr the tenovr of the ald charterys..in the wytnes of the qvylk thing to this presens I haf set my seyl. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1965) Psalms Prol. l. 9 It is also seid a sawteer, þe whiche name it tooc of a Musik instrument: þat ebruly is clepid nablum. a1400 (a1325) (Gött.) l. 9434 Þe first law was cald ‘of kinde,’..Þe toþer has ‘possitiue’ to name, þe whilk lawe was for-bed Adam, Forto ete þat fruit. 1419 in C. Innes (1837) 502 Þe qwhilkis Indentours þe forsaid Nychole has delyuerit till þe sayd abbot and Conuent..qwhile at þai be fullely assythit of þe said fowrty pvnd. 1526 Heb. x. 10 By the which will we are sanctified. 1607 E. Topsell 466 There was a lionesse which had whelpes in her den, the which den was obserued by a Beare, the which Beare on a day finding the den vnfortified..entred..and slew the Lions whelpes. a1824 Ld. Byron (1842) 193/1 Finished copying August..1820; the which copying makes ten times the toil of composing. 1861 D. G. Rossetti tr. Dante Vita Nuova in ii. 297 Of the which thing I bethought me to speak unto her. B. pron. I. Interrogative uses. 1. OE 169 Hwylc æteowde eow to fleonne fram ðon toweardan Godes erre? c1175 ( Ælfric Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine (1993) 64 Laford, la, hwylc is he þæt ic ilyfe on hine? c1300 St. Brendan (Laud) l. 569 in C. Horstmann (1887) 235 Man mai i-seo ȝwuch it is to ȝyuen oþur mannes þing with wouȝ. c1390 in C. Horstmann (1892) i. 240 Afftur þis schaltou witen þen Wȝuche ben þe comaundemens ten. c1400 (Rawl. B. 171) 22 (MED) How iiij kynges curteisely helde al Britaigne, and whiche beth here names. 1549 (STC 16267) Confirmacion f. x*v Tell me how many [commandments] there bee... Aunswere. Tenne. Question. Whiche be they? a1592 R. Greene (1598) sig. D Sike is the werld, but whilke is he I sawe. 1600 W. Shakespeare ii. i. 93 I haue many ill qualities. Bene. Which is one? Mar. I say my praiers alowd. View more context for this quotation 1636 G. Sandys (1648) cxiv. 9 Recoyling Seas, which [1638 what] caus'd your dread? 1685 N. Boteler 123 Which is that you call the Gallery in a Ship? 1835 A. A. Parker 88 Ask a question, and if they do not understand you, they reply ‘which?’ 1847 C. Dickens (1848) xxxviii. 381 ‘I want a so-and-so,’ he says—some hard name or other. ‘A which?’ says the Cap'en. 1891 R. Kipling ix. 193 Who's interfering with which? 1910 P. W. Joyce 348 When a person does not quite catch what another says, there is generally a query... Our people often express this query by the single word ‘which?’ 1938 W. Faulkner 83 Yankee say, ‘Sartoris, John Sartoris,’ and Marse John say, ‘Which? Say which?’ 1950 W. Faulkner 752 ‘Here,’ Weddel said, extending the tumbler... The Negro stopped... ‘Which?’ he said. He looked at the glass. 2004 T. P. Dolan (2006) 252/2 Which? I didn't catch that. 2. Used in asking the identity of a choice from a definite set of alternatives: what one (or ones) of a (stated or implied) set of persons, things, or alternatives. (The current use.) OE 147 Hwylc is of us, Drihten, þæt hæbbe swa hwite saule swa þeos halige Marie? ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 226 To hwich of þeose foure Mei he him bi wenden? a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 3074 ‘Quilc ben ðo ðe sulen vt-gon?’ Quað moyses, ‘but alle! wapmen Wið erf and childre and wimmen!’ a1500 (a1419) Jack Upland (Harl.) l. 101 in P. L. Heyworth (1968) 58 Frere, hou many ordris ben in erþe, & whiche is moost perfiȝt ordre? 1526 John viii. f. cxxxiijv Which of you can rebuke me off synne? 1600 W. Shakespeare v. iv. 72 Which is Beatrice? Beat. I answer to that name. View more context for this quotation 1733 A. Pope 16 Which of these is worse? Want with a full, or with an empty purse? 1889 R. L. Stevenson iii. 42 But which is it to be? Fight or make friends? 1942 26 Apr. (Downtown ed.) (Comic Weekly Suppl.) Which is your favorite comic? 2009 E. Walters 50 ‘Which do you prefer?’ ‘Either is good.’ OE Cynewulf 857 Saga, gif ðu cunne, on hwylcre þyssa þreora þeoden engla geþrowode. OE (1932) 132 Woldon cunnian hwæðer cwice lifdon þa þe on carcerne..wunedon, hwylcne hie to æte ærest mihton..feores berædan. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) l. 928 Among hom..strif me miȝte ise Woch mest maisters were. a1350 Life St. Alexius (Laud) l. 207 in F. J. Furnivall (1878) 43 Lauedi, I wille ful fayn, and I wiste wilk. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 15275 Ful wel i wat þe quilk o yow þe tresun has puruaid. 1508 (Chepman & Myllar) sig. ciiii Quhilk that happynnit the lak Couth na leid say. 1570 T. Tusser (new ed.) f. 15 In making or mending, (as nedeth) thy ditch, get set to quicke set it, learne cunningly which [1580 whitch]. 1603 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero 2 Of these two I doe not know which to prefer. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. iii. 87 I cannot tell..for which of his Vertues it was. View more context for this quotation 1660 T. Fuller i. xiii. 21 Two young Gentlemen were comparing their revenues together, vying which of them were the best. 1791 W. Cowper 18 Mar. (1982) III. 483 Indisposed..with gout or rheumatism (for it seems to be uncertain, which). 1857 J. Ruskin Add. 191 The contest between them is not..which shall get everything for himself. 1915 W. S. Maugham xxxvii. 195 He came to know which of the clients must be treated with respect. 2009 B. Harrison iv. 191 The advertisement,..invited the public to pronounce on which of two apparently identical female heads of hair had been home-permed. II. Relative uses. * As simple relative pronoun. In the following senses formerly (between the mid 14th and mid 17th centuries) frequently (and later occasionally as an archaism) preceded by the definite article the; also formerly sometimes followed by that (see that conj. 7), occasionally by as (cf. as conj. 20). 3. Introducing a clause defining or restricting the antecedent, esp. a clause essential to the identification of the antecedent, e.g. America took the decisions which largely shaped the post-war world. Regularly used after the antecedent that ( that pron.1 4) or after a preposition. Used originally to refer to both things and people; for the latter that, or who and (objective) whom are now standard. With antecedents other than that and not following a preposition, that (that pron.2 1), often with low stress, is very frequent.In written usage since the late 18th century usually distinguished from sense B. 4 by the absence of a comma before the relative (as in speech by the absence of a pause). a. As the subject or object of a verb. Earliest with all as antecedent, in literary use till the mid 19th cent. (cf. quot. 1848 at sense B. 3a(b)).In quot. 1729 at sense B. 3a(b) in anacoluthic construction, as in that pron.2 8.OE tr. (1958) xix. 30 Nu bidde we þe þæt þu geceose þe ænne of us þrym hwilcne þu wille þe to aðume habban [L. de tribus elige unum quem vis habere generum].] c1175 (Burchfield transcript) 17677 I maȝȝ full æþe cnawenn All whillke shulenn cwemenn me. c1330 (?a1300) (Auch.) (1973) l. 1380 Whe han went into al þis lond To seche a child..Wiche men clepeþ Merlin. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) iv. l. 1833 He gan to fare Into the field and loke and stare, As he which feigneth to be wod. c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 472 This Britoun clerk hym asked of felawes The whiche þt he hadde knowe in olde dawes. 1483 in G. Neilson & H. Paton (1918) II. Introd. p. cvi Because he mariit without his consent quhilk is his ourlord. a1500 (1870) 185 The metire and the cuning..Quhilk I submyt to the correccioune Of yaim the quhich that is discret and wyss. 1526 Matt. v. f. v Blessed are they which suffre persecucion for rightewesnes sake. 1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault vi. xxii. 803 The reader which is carefull of his health, may learne to make choise of such wine. 1606 G. W. tr. Justinus xxiii. 85 He the which was Lord of infinit riches to daie, was scarce maister of any to morrow. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. v. 208 Euery one heares that; which can distinguish sound. 1703 W. Burkitt Luke iv. 24 That Minister which prostitutes his Authority, frustrates the end of his Ministry. 1774 J. Bryant (new ed.) I. p. xiv Those people which, I term Amonians. 1836 J. Grant x. 224 Dugald Stewart, one of the greatest men which Scotland has produced. 1940 W. Faulkner ii. i. 110 He could almost see the husband which she would someday have. 2001 B. K. Das tr. P. Ray lxxix. 228 I'll take care of your lands, your salap trees, your pigs and chickens and the child which is in your wife's belly. a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 170 So made god..Al erue and wrim and wilde der, Qwel [emended in ed. to Qwelc] man mai sen on werlde her. c1390 (Vernon) (1967) l. 1436 Þe woundes..Wȝuche þat weoren on honden and feet. 1485 (Caxton) xx. vii. sig. bbiiij I told hym the peryls the which ben now fallen. 1526 Acts xxvi. 16 To make the..a witnes both off the thynges which thou hast sene and off tho thynges in the which I will apere vnto the. 1601 B. Jonson ii. ii. sig. Ev That land or nation best doth thriue, Which to smooth-fronted peace is most procliue. View more context for this quotation 1611 Gen. i. 7 God..diuided the waters, which were vnder the firmament, from the waters, which were aboue the firmament. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) v. i. 207 It is you, that haue chalk'd forth the way Which brought vs hither. View more context for this quotation 1619 in J. Hales (1673) ii. 125 This is all which is done this week. 1729 W. Law ix. 126 Direct your common actions to that end which they did. 1774 O. Goldsmith II. 335 Repairing the destruction, which they must often suffer, by their quick reproduction. 1848 E. B. Pusey (1873) I. iv. 71 All which we are, except sin, He became. 1875 W. S. Jevons xx. 254 Let us suppose that there is a town which is able to support two banks. 1918 c. 5 §4 (2) If any person..makes..any statement which is false. 1986 17 Aug. 40/3 Radio 1 DJ Janice Long was impressed by a demo tape which Owen sent and she featured him on her programme. 2018 W. Davies (2019) vi. 169 The intelligence that matters most is that which can be accessed quickly. b. As object of a preposition, which either precedes which or stands at the end of the clause, as in sense B. 4a. If the preposition complements a noun phrase, in formal style the latter often stands immediately before the preposition (e.g. the Royal Navy have made a raid the story of which will live as an epic of British courage).c1275 Kentish Serm. in J. Hall (1920) I. 218 Alle þo sennen þurch wiche me liest þo luue of gode almichti. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 146 How god bigan þe law hym gyfe þe quilk the Iuus in suld life. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 17288 + 74 Þat friday was our leuedy day on wilk our lord slayn was. c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (1874) l. 17 Of the secte of which þat he was born He kepte his lay to which þat he was sworn. a1500 (?c1450) ii. 32 I moste go in to that contre ffro whiche these be come to fecche me. 1611 James ii. 7 Doe not they blaspheme that worthy Name, by the which ye are called? View more context for this quotation 1663 in (Friends' Hist. Soc.) (1911) 2nd Ser. 173 Many more thinges which the controuersy of the Lord is against. 1700 W. Congreve ii. i. 23 The Guilt with which you wou'd asperse me. 1839 H. T. De la Beche xiv. 459 A bar upon which the sea breaks occurs at the entrance of the Kingsbridge estuary. 1843 T. B. Macaulay Moore's Life Byron in I. 336 They wrote concerning things the thought of which set their hearts on fire. 1934 W. Temple i. 23 What Otto speaks of as the ‘Mysterium tremendum’..is just that before which we do not reason but bow. 1965 Apr. 122/5 I think that the issue which we are dealing with this afternoon is too serious for the kind of low-level tomfoolery which he likes to indulge in. 2003 14 Apr. 11/2 I don't have any English blood in my veins, a thing which I'm inordinately proud of. a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 3716 Getenisse men ben in ebron, Quilc men mai get wundren on. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Petyt) (1996) ii. l. 5483 Whan þei were inowe on whilk þei mot afie. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer (Ellesmere) (1877) §981 If ther be a confessour to which he may shriuen hym. 1548 f. xxviiiv Entendyng to be reuenged on them whiche he sought for. 1616 D. Tuvill Ep. Ded. sig. A3v This inward Beauty..makes me thinke you, that compleat Heroine, which Venus spake of. 1658 tr. J. Ussher 220 Darius his wife..cast the child of which she went, and died. 1909 9 July 2/2 He is on the high road to get all the men for which he has asked. 1946 25 Feb. 20/2 Furtwängler..regretted that there is no tribunal before which he could be given a chance to justify his actions before the American public. 1999 (U. S. Dept. of Health & Human Services) 369/1 Dependents' supplements: £ 39.95 a week for dependent adult; £ 9.90 for first child for which child benefit paid. 1654 J. Hall ii. v. 124 I cannot see how a rational man (which none denied him to be) should, at the same time he aims at Empire and Dominion, wish or plot the lessening of it. 1825 W. Scott Talisman v, in IV. 88 My words shall be those of the maniac outcast which I am. 1843 G. Borrow II. x. 208 He was by no means the profound philologist which the notary had represented him to be. 1855 J. H. Newman xii. 108 He was not quite the craven..which she thought him. 1984 A. Comfort v. 218 Oliver Lodge, Balfour, Myers and the others were..as much out of their depth as if Priestley had discovered radioactivity, but not the credulists which subsequent hardliners have made them out to be. 2005 (Nexis) 9 Oct. 17 He was never the accomplished martial arts artiste which his films made him out to be. 4. Introducing a clause describing or stating something additional about the antecedent, the sense of the main clause being complete without the relative clause (thus sometimes equivalent to ‘and he, she, it, they, etc.)’; e.g. The Green movement, which is stronger in Germany than anywhere else in Europe, has helped to keep the issue alive. Used originally to refer to both things and people; for the latter who and (objective) whom are now standard. Cf. that pron.2 2. a. As the object of a preposition, which either precedes which or stands at the end of the clause. If the preposition complements a noun phrase, in formal style the latter often stands immediately before the preposition (e.g. The motion was then put to a card vote, the result of which is expected today).a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 11 Drihten him bi-tahte twa stanene tables breode on hwulche godalmihti heofde iwriten þa ten laȝe. ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 261 Bitwene þeose steolen beoð of alle gode þeawes þetindes iuestned, bi hwicche me climbeð to þe blisse of heouene. a1325 (c1280) (Pepys 2344) (1927) l. 1420 (MED) Þe gyewes oþer þinges þouȝte ffoure, Wiþ wuche hi þouȝte oure lord to skorny. a1400 (a1325) (Gött.) l. 9540 Ilk-an gaf he substance an,..widuten quhylk on nan manere Miht he in pes his kingriche ȝeme. 1451 W. Wayte in (2004) II. 62 A letter..qwych I send yow a copy of. c1500 (?a1437) (1939) iii (MED) I..toke a boke to rede..Off quhich the name is clepit properly Boece. 1526 Gal. v. 21 The dedes of the flesshe..off the which I tell you before, as I have tolde you in tyme past. 1590 E. Spenser i. xi. sig. L3 A springing well, From which fast trickled forth a siluer flood. 1603 in J. Gage (1822) 32 One payer of little orgaynes wth a board wh they stand on. 1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot i. 17 Our Ship stuck a ground, with the noise of which, our Captain awoke. 1726 W. R. Chetwood 126 Their Beards & Mustachoes..which they take a particular Pride in the Length or Largeness of. 1812 H. F. Cary tr. Dante xxii. 146 [This world] o'er the which we stride So fiercely. 1858 T. Carlyle I. ii. vii. 131 The Pope..being held..at a distance: the result of which was what we see. 1884 Ld. Tennyson Prol. 20 He holp the King to break down our castles, for the which I hate him. 1893 M. Pemberton ii A..Scotsman, who carried the economy of his race even to the extent of flesh, of which he was sparse. 1961 C. Isherwood Diary 19 Apr. in (2010) II. 60 Still and all, I still think I may get about $15,000 after deductions, which is not to be sneezed at. 2014 (Nexis) 24 July (Finance) 1 Lawyers for both sides and the bankruptcy trustee met privately with the judge for several minutes in a ‘sidebar discussion’, the details of which were not disclosed in court. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1961) Deut. ix. 2 Sonys of Enachim..to þe which no man may aȝeyn wiþstonde. a1400 Psalter (Vesp.) cxlv. 2 in C. Horstmann (1896) II. 271 Traiste neuer..in mensones, in whilke hele es nane. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Petyt) (1996) ii. l. 1246 Emme þe quene..of þe whilk was born Alfred & Edward. 1549 H. Latimer 3rd Serm. sig. Eviiiv There be some sclaunderouse people, vaynespeakers,..whych I must nedes speake agaynst. 1692 R. L'Estrange xxxviii. 41 He's Beset with Enemies..the Meanest of which is not without Many and Many a Way to the Wreaking of a Malice. a1774 O. Goldsmith tr. P. Scarron (1775) I. xvii. 200 A couple of women..one of which..leaned on the other's shoulder. 1899 25 114/1 His mother had ten children, of which he was the oldest. 1930 1 42 There is an obvious physiological relationship between a woman and the child to which she gives birth. 1991 21 Nov. b4/6 A violence-prone skinhead street gang to which Mr. Doyle and Mr. Bici belonged. 2001 Nov. 190/2 Two children, the youngest of which..was born with a distressing heart condition. b. Referring to a fact, circumstance, or statement. c1350 (1866) App. 264 He ansuereþ, he ne may naȝt zigge bote yef þer by heȝliche clom. Huych y-graunted, þus he begynþ. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) Prol. l. 258 To make pes betwen the kynges..Which is the propre duete Belongende unto the presthode. 1516 in E. Lodge (1838) I. 17 He would advise me to get me to some little house, with a few persons with me, which I have done. 1521 Will of John Berryff in (1904) 13 221 If she [sc. the ship] come not well home, which God forfende. 1600 W. Shakespeare v. ii. 34 You must now speake sir Iohn Falstaffe faire, Which swimmes against your streame of quallitie. View more context for this quotation 1699 R. Bentley (new ed.) 320 The last part of the Sentence not..answering to the first; which is the proper definition of a Solœcism. 1761 L. Sterne III. xxiv. 129 I dragg'd her after me, by means of which she fell backwards soss against the bridge. 1787 J. Fea 31 We have no Methodists settled amongst us, which is very fortunate. 1836 C. Dickens 1st Ser. II. 322 Looking as amiable as they possibly could—which, by the bye, is not saying much for them. 1839 A. Ure 1076 Yellow rosin contains some water, which black rosin does not. 1914 ‘I. Hay’ xiii. § 3 They conformed to the rules,..observing the spirit rather than the letter of the law. Which was just as well. 1950 H. Patterson & E. Conrad ii. v. 122 He..said, ‘Haven't I told you black sons of bitches about talking after bed hours?’ ‘I wasn't talking,’ I said. And which I wasn't. 1970 J. Dickey iv. 240 While I was talking I looked him in the eyes, which was surprisingly easy to do. 2000 J. M. Gray 290 You have to slow yourself down and concentrate on one specific thing. Which is quite a luxury in Emerg, believe me. 1532 R. Whittington tr. Erasmus sig. C.6v If so be that the Turke (whiche god forbyd) shuld haue domynion vpon vs, we shulde offende if we dyd nat shewe reuerence to that auctorie. 1578 J. Rolland 50 He purposit quhilk was wors My awin Lady..to defors. 1619 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher iii. sig. F3v Are not you, Which is aboue all ioyes, my constant friend. 1640 E. Reynolds xvi. 174 Strange Sinnes too (which is the curiositie and corruption of Nature) are marvellous attractive. 1682 J. Bunyan 36 He told too, the which I had almost forgot, how Diabolus had put the Town of Mansoul into Arms. View more context for this quotation 1862 J. Ruskin ii. 40 Primarily, which is very notable and curious, I observe that men of business rarely know the meaning of the word ‘rich’. 1882 W. Besant I. vii. 171 When, which happened every day, they forgot their disguises for a while, they talked quite freely. 1910 R. Kipling If in 176 If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And—which is more—you'll be a Man, my son! 1955 ‘P. Wentworth’ (1997) iv. 28 She could not only pass in a crowd, she could—which was much more useful—pass unregarded in a drawing-room. 1998 E. M. Selinger iii. 89 Properly disciplined, eros could lead to something just this side of ‘union with the absolute’. And, which is more, to lasting art. c. As the subject or object of a verb. Formerly sometimes used where as is now idiomatic, as in quot. 1688 at sense B. 4c(b); cf. sense B. 5.1372 in E. Wilson (1973) 29 (MED) Þe þanne, we beseken, þi seruans do good, þe wiche þat þu bouthtest with þi dere blod. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. iv. 19 Mathusael gete lameth: þe which toke two wyues. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (1871) l. 1343 Yow, which I haue loued specially. c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 114 Hir freendes whiche þt knowe hir heuy thoght Conforten hire. 1447 O. Bokenham (Arun.) (1938) l. 7577 Lord Jhesu Cryst, wych al thyng knowyst. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 41 Kynge Royns of Northe Walis which [1485 Caxton the whiche] was a myghty kynge of men. 1490 W. Caxton tr. (1885) xxvi. 547 Charlemagn toke a messager, whiche he sente to reynawde. 1526 1 Cor. xv. 57 Thankes be vnto God, whych hath geven vs victory. 1538 J. Davy 24 Jan. (P.R.O.: SP 3/3) f. 2 I Reseuyd a letter from the conntroller of Fecaime wyche ys the hey amyrall of France. 1549 (STC 16267) Mattyns f. iiiiv O God, which art author of peace, and louer of concorde. 1598 W. Shakespeare ii. i. 70 There are other Troians that thou dreamst not of, the which for sport sake are content to do the profession, some grace. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. ii. 344 I am all the Subiects that you haue, Which first was min owne King. View more context for this quotation 1692 O. Walker ii. 310 He had nine Wives, all which he cast off successively. 1700 17 The Master-Bricklayer, or else his Foreman (which ought to be an ingenious Workman). 1837 C. Dickens xxxiii. 366 Had been told it herself by Mrs. Mudberry which kept a mangle, and Mrs. Bunkin which clear-starched. 1923 27 Oct. 336/2 I was catched by Mrs. Mowdie, which led me to a stall where, afore I realised it, the pound had went on a big box o' chocolates. 1992 J. Mitford iv. xii. 203 At the Farm, as elsewhere, difficulties arise when the baby, which normally comes out head first, is in the wrong position. 2019 A. Scorah 145 I was terrified of the Chinese authorities, which we knew monitored people's communications, seeing it and targeting me. OE viii. 4 Quoniam uidebo cęlos tuos opera digitorum tuorum; lunam et stellas quas tu fundasti : forþon ic geseo heofonas weorc fingra þinra monam & steorran hwylce þu gestaþolodest.] c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke xii. 1 Be ȝe war of the sourdowȝ of Pharisees, which is ypocrisye. a1400 Psalter (Vesp.) ix. 16 in C. Horstmann (1896) II. 141 In þis snare whilke þai hid swa. a1425 (a1325) (Galba) l. 25391 Þe blis of heuyn, Whilk seuyn vertuse vntill vs wins, And als fordose seuyn dedly sins. c1450 (c1350) (Bodl.) (1929) l. 1127 Wo and wikkede paine, Þe whiche þe heie godus haten. 1461 C. Paston in (2004) I. 199 Desieryng to herre of ȝoure welfare and good prosperite, the qwyche I pray God encresse. 1485 W. Caxton tr. sig. kij/2 Eche took an hors..which ranne at al aduenture. 1554 D. Lindsay iii. sig. M.iiiv This is ane maruellous Monarche, Quhilk hes power Imperiall Boith of the body and the Saull. 1575 J. Rolland Prol. sig. Aij Complexiounis..Quhilkis ar thir four:..Phlegmatike..Sanguineane..Colerike..Melancolie, Quhilkis of nature ar wonder different. 1590 E. Spenser i. i. sig. A8 Sweet slombring deaw, the which to sleep them biddes. a1613 E. Brerewood (1614) 201 The Italian, French, and Spanish: all which in a barbarous word have beene called Romanse. 1650 T. Fuller i. xiii. 41 The Hebrews measuring their land by a bow-shoot,..which..admits of variation. 1688 R. Holme iii. 331/2 The Pitchfork (or Pikel, which we vulgarly call it). 1719 D. Defoe 55 I spy'd a small Piece of a Rope, which I wonder'd I did not see at first. 1825 T. Hook 2nd Ser. III. 209 ‘And so good night:’ saying which, he urbanely shook hands. 1872 J. Morley i. 3 Ideas..whose forms were old.., but which were full of seemingly inexhaustible novelty. 1875 W. S. Jevons xix. 246 The United States government tried a similar experiment, which was soon discontinued. 1946 S. Plath 8 July (2017) I. 68 Today I continued to work on my copper mint dish, which is rather small, but which I hope you will appreciate. 2018 B. Cooper 51 The Hip Hop of the nineties, which I loved, had its fair share of strong female leads. the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > circumstance or circumstances > [noun] > which circumstance c1450 tr. G. Deguileville (Cambr.) (1869) 142 J am lich the hound that lyth on the hep of hey to which if any sette hand he abayeth and berketh and cryeth. 1510 in I. S. Leadam (1911) II. 69 If the whiche shuld contynewe..your seid Towne..shall wexe empty. 1548 f. ccxivv To conuey hym selfe in to some other place without delay, which if he did they assured hym, yt he should haue neither hurte nor damage. a1648 Ld. Herbert (1976) 96 Oliver Herbert was forced to fly france, which that he might do the better, I paid the said Fencer 200 Crowns. 1752 H. Fielding I. iii. viii. 242 The Tears began to overflow—which when he perceived, he stopt. 1796 E. Inchbald (1820) xi. 29 Explanations followed all these questions; but which..require no recital here. 1835 ‘S. Oliver’ 106 A girl..returning home from milking..saw many fairies gamboling in the fields, but which were invisible to her companions. 1871 J. Ruskin I. iii. 14 It was not [then] esteemed of absolute necessity to put agreements between Christians in writing! Which if it were not now, you know we might save a great deal of money. 1883 R. W. Dixon ii. iv. 76 Which when he saw, thither full fast ran he. 1661 J. Howell 233 The subject of this Discours were more proper to One of the long-Robe, which I am not. 1797 Bp. Watson (ed. 6) vi. 180 He put two maid servants, which were called ministers, to the torture. a1874 J. Moultrie (1876) I. i. 147 If I were Proud to be thought a poet (which I an't) I should be fearful. 1961 V. Sackville-West 82 If I were that way inclined, which I am not, I can imagine falling in love with him myself. 2019 A. Thomas ix. 121 Grandma goes, ‘T'uh! I'm sure you do. You looking kinda po' too.’ Not poor, but po', as in skinny, which I'm not. 5. Used after an antecedent to which the ordinary correlative is as. rare. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) ii. l. 271 Whan that I knowe it is the same Which to mi ladi stant enclined And hath his love noght termined, I am riht joifull in my thoght. 1605 W. Camden i. 45 Barvch, Hebr. the same which Bennet, blessed. 1607 E. Topsell 326 A kinde of wilde horsse which hath hornes like a Hart, and therefore I take it to bee the same which is called Hypellaphus. a1882 C. Engel (1883) 102 There is reason to surmise that the accordaturas given by him are the same which were in use during the later centuries of the middle ages. 2000 16 57 The rules for evaluating a scientist's report of what he has seen..are the same which apply to the testimony of a layman. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) vii. l. 1638 A man schal..knette upon conclusioun His Argument in such a forme, Which mai the pleine trouthe enforme. 1550 J. Veron Ep. Ded. sig. A.viii Who is so dul,..whiche..would not be moued too thankefulnes? 1596 ‘L. Piot’ tr. A. van den Busche 401 No man ought to bind himselfe vnto such couenants which hee cannot..accomplish. 1709 J. Strype lii. 524 These..seemed to him..such which he never thought..would be seriously opposed. 1827 J. Bentham V. ix. iv. v. 321 There is not any argument so..absurd, which is not daily received. 1888 ‘S. Grand’ (1893) 229 Only such intellectual pursuits which are pleasant. †** As nominal relative in generalized sense. Some cases may be viewed as showing ellipsis of an antecedent.eOE (Parker) anno 755 Þæs cyninges þegnas..þa þider urnon swa hwelc swa þonne gearo wearþ.] c1275 (?c1250) (Calig.) (1935) l. 1378 Bo wuch ho bo. c1300 (c1250) (Cambr.) (1966) l. 299 (MED) Clene maidenes..Schulle sitte arewe vnder þat treo, And which falleþ on þat furste flur Schal beo Quene. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) l. 497 Brut bad corineus for to chese of ech contrei..Ȝwich..him likede best. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 16373 Ask quilk sum yee will haue. 1424 in F. J. Furnivall (1882) 57 I wul my wyf haf my best ambeler, and my sone..wylk him likeþ best. a1425 (Lansd.) (1902) 35 Þabbesse..ouþir a-noþir nunne, wilke sam sho cumandis. 1464 in (2007) 1464/8/1 Thai personis..sall outhir entire the kingis ward..or thane dewoide the realme..quhilk that salbe seine mast expedient. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. cccxli. 217/2 Whiche of them yt euer should breake this peace..shoulde rynne in the sentence of the pope. 1545 T. Raynald tr. E. Roesslin iii. sig. X.iiv Whiche of these wayes so euer it cume it shall be very good to bathe the chylde. 1604 W. Shakespeare iv. vii. 13 My vertue or my plague, be it eyther which . View more context for this quotation 1660 P. Heylyn ii. 7 To put his hunting spear amongst them, and the which of them soever should lay hold upon it, should be..drawn out of the water. 1666 W. Boghurst (1894) 90 Out of which you may pick and chuse which you like best. 7. That which, one which, something that. Also: (of a person) one who. Also: (with anaphoric reference to a plural noun phrase) those which, those who. With quots. 1600, 1719 at sense B. 7a cf. sense B. 4b(b).c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 1084 Al Albanakes folc folden i-seohten. buten whilc [c1300 Otho woch] þat þer at-wond þurh wode burȝe. a1450 (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) l. 8841 He dremed of you which him affrayed. 1488 (c1478) Hary (Adv.) (1968–9) xii. l. 321 Na men he tuk bot quhilk he hydder brocht. 1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus I. John vii. 31 Should he do greater thynges then whiche this man doeth? 1579 W. Fulke Heskins Parl. Repealed in 105 They interprete literally, which the doctors did write figuratiuely. 1600 W. Shakespeare iv. ii. 78 I am a wise fellow, and which is more, an officer, and which is more, a housholder. View more context for this quotation 1643 D. Digges i. 8 I shall desire one thing especially may be remembred, as which hath great influence upon all cases. 1654 Z. Coke 16 An ambiguous word is which indistinctly signifieth things that in nature are divers. 1719 D. Defoe 87 I had the loose Earth to carry out; and which was of more Importance, I had the Seiling to prop up. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. xx. 11/2 I knowe yt the most worthy..knight of my realme shall acheue for me, the whyche I coulde neuer attayne vnto. 1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More sig. Fi For there is no waye so proffytable..as the whiche hath a shewe and coloure of iustice. 1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe 67 We follow not your fayth, as the which we have tasted to bee..most detestable. *** Specific uses with both restrictive and non-restrictive clauses. See also sense B. 4d. 8. a. With (in the latter part of the relative clause) a pleonastic personal pronoun or its equivalent referring to the antecedent, so that which serves only to link the clauses together. a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer (Pierpont Morgan) (1881) ii. l. 654 Þis is he, which þat myn vncle swereth he mot be ded. 1449 R. Wenyngton in (2005) III. 68 Yowre wurschupfull astate, the whyche all myghte God mayntayne hyt. a1525 ( (1908) II. 493 Which yf it so be, we haue gret cause of displeasure. 1526 John xxi. f. cliij There are also many other thynges which Iesus did: the which yff they shulde be written every won, I suppose [etc.]. 1589 G. Puttenham iii. iv. 122 Ye finde these words, penetrate, penetrable, indignitie, which I cannot see how we may spare them. 1655 T. Fuller ix. 175 A Schedule containing his heresies, (which what they were may be collected by that which ensueth). 1690 J. Locke (1694) ii. v. §42. 196 Provisions..which how much they exceed the other in value,..he will then see. 1726 G. Shelvocke tr. Imperial Comm. in Pref. p. vii Scandalous and unjust Aspersions..which, how far I deserve them, I shall leave to the candid opinion of every unprejudiced Reader. 1768 L. Sterne II. 140 The history of myself, which, I could not die in peace unless I left it as a legacy to the world. 2001 J. Franzen 65 They say he was a workaholic and that work was a drug which when he couldn't have it anymore he got depressed. a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer (Pierpont Morgan) (1881) ii. l. 318 Þe kynges dere sone..which alwey for to do wel is his wone. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 1002 There ys in this castell a jantillwoman, whych both we and thys castell ys hers. a1533 Ld. Berners tr. (?1560) lxv. sig. Piiiiv To do many thynges the whyche the hurte therof lyghteth on theyr owne neckes. 1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán ii. 164 Take away..mens credits, and estates.., which lies not afterwards in their power to make restitution thereof. 1721 R. Bradley 90 Bulbous-rooted Plants, which when the Leaves of them decay, a new framed Root..supplies their Loss. a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich xlvi. l. 399 (MED) I wolde that ȝe wolden Conseillen Me Where I myht ben In place preve, Awey from this peple here that scholen ben trowbled In diuers Manere, whiche that were gret Noysaunce to Me Amonges hem thanne forto be. 1723 J. Swift 13 Which, and I am sure I have been his servant four years since October, And he never call'd me worse than sweetheart, drunk or sober. ?1778 G. Olmsted (Libr. of Congress MS 0340B) (1978) 36 ?1778 G. Olmsted Jrnl. (Libr. of Congress MS 0340B) (1978) 36 I wors Slitely wounded..which the pryse marster let me lye upon the deck...John Buckland wors slitle wounded..which thay Caryed him a bord the ship to be Dressed. 1862 W. M. Thackeray I. xvi. 329 ‘That noble young fellow’, says my general... Which noble his conduct I own it has been. 1870 B. Harte viii Which I have a small favor to ask you, As concerns a bull-pup, which the same,—If the duty would not overtask you,—You would please to procure for me, game. 1905 21 Oct. 4/7 If anything 'appens to you—which God be between you and 'arm—I'll look after the kids. 1976 W. Wolfram & D. Christian 121 I remember the doctor comin’ and deliverin’ the baby which we were in the other room. 1984 C. Kightly iv. 100 Grandmother was a very clever woman this way: she was a good nurse. Which they didn't train nurses then, but Granny went when every baby was born in Muker, and when anybody died, she'd go and lay them out. 1999 S. Rushdie (2000) xi. 320 If this is your wish Mr. Standish which I'm offering no opinion then so be it, it's your call. You change your mind you come and see me. 2004 www.thefoodwhore.com 23 Aug. (blog, Internet Archive Wayback Machine 14 Oct. 2004) He wasn't happy with me. Which, yeah. Whatever. 2013 (Nexis) 19 Mar. ‘If you come into my restaurant and you want a bowl of Corn Flakes, my job is to give you a bowl of Corn Flakes. I have no ego attached to what we do.’ Which like, what? 2019 T. M. Cottom 132 A senior scholar of great standing in my profession once said to me, ‘I do not trust you. Too many white people like you.’ Which, ouch. 2021 @donnary57676462 31 July in twitter.com (accessed 1 Dec. 2021) People always talk about how attractive Charlotte is (which, fair point) but Nancy... sigh. 9. Preceded by and. a1425 (c1395) (Royal) (1850) Wisd. vii. .23 In that wisdom vnmaad is the spirit of vndurstonding..hauynge al vertu, biholdynge alle thingis, and which [E.V. a1382 Douce 369(1) and that] takith alle spiritis able to vndurstonde. ?1536 R. Taverner tr. Erasmus sig. C.iii He is but a very lytle of, from the prayse of virgynite, whyche kepeth purely the law of wedlocke, and whyche hath a wyfe to the entent to beget chylderne, and nat to satysfy hys wanton luste. 1579–80 T. North tr. Cæsar in Plutarch (1595) 771 An army vnuincible, & which they could not possibly withstand. 1668 J. Dryden 46 We have many Playes of ours as regular as any of theirs; and which, besides, have more variety of Plot and Characters. 1781 S. Johnson Addison in V. 26 Two books yet celebrated..for purity and elegance, and which, if they are now less read, are neglected only because their precepts..are no longer wanted. 1832 R. Southey I. 40 The subject..was one of great difficulty and which required very serious consideration. a1845 S. Smith (1850) 284 The habit of contradicting, into which young men..are apt to fall; and which is a habit extremely injurious to the powers of the understanding. 1876 J. Ruskin VI. lxx. 315 If the dog have the good fortune to find a master, he has a possession..better than bones; and which, indeed, he will..leave, not his meat only, but his life for. 1931 77 509 These older deposits had been covered by lavas which I thought of considerable antiquity and which must pre-date the arrival of man. 2003 (Nexis) 7 Jan. d9 Now the little girls have a play shop filled with jars and tins all labelled to say what's in them, and which cost a fortune. 1532 T. More i. p. xlii This holy sacrament of matrymonye was bygonne by god in paradyse, and whych when he bygan, he there instytuted to sygnyfye the coniunccyon bytwene hym selfe and mannys soule. 1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault v. xviii. 701 The good huswife must be carefull when the lyne is growne, to free it from being intangled with the weede vsing to winde about it, and which of some is called lynegowte. 1606 G. W. tr. Epit. Liues Emperors in tr. Justinus sig. Ll 3 Galeaze..who had conquered a great part of Italy, and which inheritance discended to his Nephews. 1608 E. Topsell 288 His forefeet being like hands, are forked and twisted very strong, & with which it fighteth and taketh his prey. 1748 G. White in (1863) July 299 For the proper return to virtue and Good-works is Honour, & Love; this is their Due, and which ought to be rendered to them by all people. 1796 E. Inchbald (1820) xvi. 42 The dean had just published a pamphlet in his own name, and in which that of his friend the bishop was only mentioned with thanks for hints. 1848 W. Templeton (ed. 2) 71 A recent occurrence..seems..to have established the fact of steam being highly charged with electricity, and which may..be the means of increasing our knowledge [etc.]. 1861 G. W. Dasent tr. I. p. lviii Every temple must contain a ring of at least two ounces in weight, and which the priest was to bear on his arm. 2015 in J. Butterfield (ed. 4) 882/1 In contrast Peake's use of elevated language has a childlike quality which is appropriate given that the protagonist, Titus, is a boy, and which I found endearing. 1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine f. xlviij/1 I haue yong children and tendre and sheep and oxen whiche yf I ouer laboured shold deye alle in a daye. a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara (1537) let. iii. f. 105v We ete dyuers thynges by morsels which if we shulde eate hole, wolde choke vs. 1687 A. Wood (1894) III. 238 Dr. Dolbein..did read much of his sermon before the king..which the king telling him of, he never after did. a1697 A. Horneck (1702) v. 302 To see me roll Sisyphus his Stone, which when I have brought to such a pitch, rolls down again. 1742 S. Johnson Deb. Senate Lilliput in Feb. 74 A Quality..which, if we could obtain, would add nothing to our Honour. 1796 E. Hamilton (1811) II. 271 They still retained an authority over his mind, at which, though his pride revolted, his understanding could not conquer. 1818 H. F. Clinton Autobiogr. in C. J. F. Clinton (1854) i. 24 These were works which, though I often inspected, I did not accurately study. 1882 H. M. Trollope tr. Comte D'Haussonville II. ix. 216 But there are in the book pages which, if he had seen, would have touched him. 2007 Oct. 9/1 The Hermetic law of attraction has been made popular by an independent film called The Secret, which if you have not seen yet, is well worth watching. Phrases P1. As part of the repetition of an interrogative, in senses A. 3, B. 2, esp. in which..which. Frequently used in asking about two or more persons who or things which are difficult to distinguish from each other. eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory (Hatton) (1871) lix. 451 He us getacnode for hwelcum ðingum we sceolden ure godan weorc helan, & for hwelcum we hi sceolden cyðan. OE Homily: Larspel & Scriftboc (Corpus Cambr. 421) in A. S. Napier (1883) 244 Ðonne anes gehwylces mannes dæda cyðað, hwylce clæne beoð, hwylce fule. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 471–2 Prestess..& dæcness..Shifftedenn hemm bitwenenn. Whillc here shollde serrfenn firrst Whillc siþþenn i þe temmple. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) l. 2562 Me nuste Woch was on ne woch was oþer. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Petyt) (1996) i. l. 17 To here..whilk were foles & whilk were wyse. 1575 G. Turberville 159 To note the naturall disposition of his Hawkes: as, whiche will flee beeing high.., and whiche best, when she is kepte lowe, whiche will flee best when she is set most sharpe and eager, and whyche contrary, and whiche in a meane betweene both. 1653 No. 81. 634 The touch cannot distinguish which is foule, nor which is fair. 1849 T. B. Macaulay I. iii. 407 Which ballot boxes were to be green and which red, which balls were to be of gold and which of silver..and a hundred more such trifles, were gravely considered. 1880 J. H. Shorthouse xxvii Trying..to make out..which was noble and which was groom. 2016 N. Alderman 103 You can tell which girls around you have got loads of power, and which have got none. b. In the same clause, in abbreviated expressions. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. xii. iii. 607 Þe firste manere hawkes takeþ onliche fleynge briddes, and þe secounde manere of hawkes..resiþ on briddis þat sittiþ one þe erþe. And þe briddis knowiþ whiche is whiche. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 9290 Wel sal he cun knau quilk es quilk, Fra the wick þe god to scil. a1450 (c1412) T. Hoccleve (Harl. 4866) (1897) l. 445 Som tyme, afer men myghten lordes knowe By there array, from oþer folke; but now A man schal..musen a long throwe Whiche is whiche. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iii. iv. 126 Macb. What is the night? La. Almost at oddes with morning, which is which . View more context for this quotation 1711 R. Steele No. 41. ⁋4 There does not need any great Discernment to judge which are which. 1849 C. Brontë II. xii. 304 Caroline, looking round, met a new Robert,—the real Robert... ‘Well,’ said he..‘which is which?’ 1993 J. Eugenides (2000) 122 Once again the boys weren't even sure which girl was which. a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer (Pierpont Morgan) (1882) iv. l. 1010 I mene as þough I laboured me in þis To enqueren which þyng cause of which þyng be. 1565 T. Harding 73 It is hard to fynde which keye serueth which locke. a1641 T. Heywood & W. Rowley (1655) ii. i Come Ile go teach ye hayte and ree, gee and whoe, and which is to which hand. 1881 M. E. Braddon II. ii. 44 To see which went best with which. 2014 Apr. 32/2 I loved learning about which colours go with which skin tones. 1559 J. Aylmer sig. K4 It was not to bee iudged by the greatnes or smalnes, but which was whose. 1582 Mark xv. 24 Casting lottes vpon them, who should take which. 1985 R. Wood in B. Nichols II. ii. 220 We have exchanged so many ideas that it would no longer be possible to sort out whose was which. 1995 20 May 39/2 A comment page where Net-cruisers speculate about which neighbour is having an affair with whom. 2005 15 June (Central ed.) d1/4 Neither patients nor researchers know who is in which group. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2022). <  adj.pron.eOE |
