whether
Meaning
-
- Indicates doubt between possibilities (usually with correlative or).
- Without a correlative, introduces a simple indirect question.
- Introduces a disjunctive adverbial clause qualifying the main clause (with correlative or).
- (obsolete) Introduces a direct question between alternatives (often with correlative or).
Synonyms
Frequency
Hyphenated as
wheth‧er
Pronounced as (IPA)
/ˈwɛðə(ɹ)/
Etymology
In summary
From Middle English whether, whather, from Old English hweþer, hwæþer, from Proto-West Germanic *hwaþar, from Proto-Germanic *hwaþeraz, comparative form of *hwaz (“who”). Cognate with German weder (“neither”), Swedish var, Icelandic hvor (“each of two, which of two”).
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Notes