a. and pron. Forms: see below. [OE. hwelc, hwilc, hwylc corresp. to OFris. hwelik, hwel(e)k, hwek, hulk, huk, hok (Fris. wolk, wæk, huk, etc.), OS. hwilîc, MLG. welik, welk, MDu. welc, (LG., Du. welk), OHG. *hwalîh, uualîh, hwelîh, welîh, -ich, -eh (MHG. welh, welch, G. welch), Goth. hwileiks:—OTeut. *χwalīk-, *χwilīk- ‘of what form,’ f. χwa-, χwi- (Indo-eur. qwo-, qwi- WHO, etc.) + *līko- body, form (cf. LIKE a.). OE. hwelc (OWS. and Anglian), hwælc (Northumb.) and hwilc (chiefly WS.), represent primitive *hwalīk- and *hwilīk- respectively; later OE. has a rounded form hwylc of hwilc. The three OE. types hwelc, hwilc, hwylc gave three ME. types *hwelch, hwilch, hwülch, which became, by loss of l (cf. SUCH), hwech, hwich, hwüch; the second of these types alone has survived in mod. English, the other two not remaining current after the 15th century. The forms with non-palatalization of the final consonant whilk (quhilk), occas. quhik, are northern (in ME. also East Anglian): cf. SWILK, SIC. Forms showing the absorption of w as in hulch, huch (cf. such for swuch, and OFris. huk) are rare.
Certain continental forms are compounded with other derivatives of the same pronominal stem; Goth. hwēleiks with the instrumental hwē (cf. hwēlauþs how great); ON. hvílíkr (MSw. hvīliken, huilkin, hu(l)kin, Sw., Da. hvilken) with the locative hwī; OHG. hwêolîh, wiolîh (MHG. wielich) with the adv. hweo, weo (G. wie) how.
For the compounds ʓehwilc, ǽʓhwilc, see EACH.]
A. Illustration of Forms.
1. 1 hwelc, huelc, hwælc, huælc, huoelc, 3 hwælch, 4–5 wheche, weche, 5 whech, qwech(e, queche, (qheche); 3 qwel, 4 quelk.
[c. 725. Corpus Gloss., Q 74. Quo cumque modo, ʓehwelci weʓa.]
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter, xviii. 13 [xix. 12]. Delicta quis intellegit, scylde hwelc onʓeted?
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Mark ix. 34. Disputauerant quis esset illorum maior,… ʓeflioton hua vel huelc woere hiora mara. Ibid., xii. 19. Si cuius frater mortuus fuerit,… ʓef huælc vel æniʓ broðer dead sie vel bið.
c. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 21. An hwælche wise ic mihte betst sahtlin wið mine halend Criste.
c. 1250. qwel [see B. 8].
c. 1375. Cursor M., 27236 (Fairf.). Þe prest agh spire … Of men þat ar in religioun Quelk reccheles prelatis is.
1387. E. E. Wills (1882), 2. The cheste … weche they haue of myn. Ibid. (1418), 44. Þe money þe qweche Oliuer hath in his hand.
14[?]. Cast. Love, 578 (MS. Bodl. Add. B. 107). Herkeneth wheche loue, wych bucsomnesse, Whiche grace & whiche swetnesse, That good from hevyn to alyȝht ches!
1449. Marg. Paston, in P. Lett., I. 82. Abok of sofystre … the qheche my seyd brother behestid my moder.
c. 1450. Capgrave, Life St. Aug., xxxii. Þat þei schuld not denye o tyme whech þei graunted anoþer tyme.
1461. Paston Lett., II. 10. I am enformyd, ye schall recuver of hard and but a part, the qwech schuld be dere of the sute.
2. α. 1–3 hwilc, wilc, 3 hwilch, w(h)ilch, whilc, Orm. whillc (gen. whillkess, pl. whillke), 3–4 wilk, 4 wylke, 4–5 whylke, 4–6 whilke, 4–6, 7–9 dial. whilk, 5 wilke, 5–7 dial. whylk, (6 Sc. vhilk, pl. vhilks, 6–8 Sc. pl. whilks); 3–4 quilc, quilke, 4 qwilk, quylk, quhylk, (quil), 4–5 quilk, 4–8 Sc. quhilk (pl. 5–7 quhilkis, 6 quhilks).
a. 950. Ælfred’s Boeth., xxxiv. § 10. Hwilc ure mæʓ areccan medemlice ures scyppendes willan?
c. 975. Rushw. Gosp., Matt. xxi. 24. Ic ek eow sæcge in wilce mæh[t]e ic þas do.
c. 1200. Ormin, 471. whillc [see B. 4]. Ibid., 5283. O whillkess kinness wise.
c. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 77. Whilch lean aust ðu te hauen of godd? Ibid., 125. Ȝif þu wilt witen wilke eiȝene ðe hierte muȝe habben.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 179. Hlisteð nu for hwat and o wilche wise.
13[?]. quhylk [see B. 7 a].
13[?]. Northern Passion, 256 (MS. Camb. Gg. 5. 31). Þai lukyd … Whylke [v.r. wylke] of þayme it myght be fall.
1424. E. E. Wills (1882), 57. I wul my wyf haf my best ambeler, and my sone … wylk him likeþ best.
1585. Jas. I., Ess. Poesie (Arb.), 14. The vapouris … Whilks syne in cloudds are keiped closs and well.
c. 1634. W. Cartwright, Ordinary, IV. i. Lere me whylk way be wended.
1711. in Nairne Peerage Evid. (1874), 132. To be … granted to the said deceast Robert lord Nairn and the airs male of his body whilks failzieing to the said Margaret now lady Nairn his daughter.
1819. Scott, Leg. Montrose, iii. Their damnable skirlin’ pipes, whilk they themselves pretend to understand.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2350. Seið him quilke min blisses ben. Ibid., 3631. Quilc frud, quat offrende, quilc [MS. quil] laȝe.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4788. Lok quilk of us sal tak on hand For vs alle do þis trauail. Ibid., 8454. Þe kind o thinges leid he,… Quil war þair mightes soth and lele.
1387. in Edin. Charters (1871), 35. In fourme the quylk eftir folowys.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms, 1. The rubryis … be the quhilkis men may better knaw [etc.].
a. 1592. whilke [see B. 2 b].
1637–50. Row, Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.), 123. The bukes of the Assemblie, all quhilkis I had preserved hole.
1724. Ramsay, Vision, xvii. Starrie gleims, Quhilk prinkled.
β. 2 hwic, wic, 2–3 hwich, (ȝwich), 3–6 wyche, wich, 4 hwych, pl. huiche, 4–5 wiche, 4–6 whiche, whyche, wych, 5 whych, (wycche, 6 wycch, Sc. vich, vhich), 4– which; 4–5 quiche, quyche, 5 quich, quych, qwiche, qwych(e, 5–6 Sc. quhich; 5 Sc. quhik.
a. 1175. Cott. Hom., 238. Wic ȝeie, wic drednesse wurð þer. Ibid., 243. Hwic scule beon ure sceld, sanctus paulus hus seið.
a. 1200. Moral Ode, 136. Lutel he hit scaweð hwice hete is þer þa saule wuneð.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 141. Lusteð … wiche wise hie hine bisohte and hwich andswere he hire giaf.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 326. Vor to wite in ȝwiche stede is wonii[n]gge were.
c. 1300. Beket (Percy Soc.), 974. In whiche manere.
1340. Ayenb., 129. Yziȝ wrechche ine huiche zorȝes and ine huiche perils þou art.
c. 1375. Cursor M., 21136 (Fairf.). Þat folk ilkane walde oþer steyuen Quiche muȝt come titist to heyuen.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 511. A costrel … hwych ys ful of þat bame cler.
1390. which [see B. 7 b].
1415. in 43rd Rep. Dep. Kpr. Publ. Rec., 584. On ye morou ye Fryday ye quich was yis day fourteneghte.
1471. Paston Lett., Suppl. (1901), 138. Wycche mony I pray zow that [ye] bestowe yt as I wryth to zow.
a. 1500. Bernard. de cura rei fam., 215. A mane,… quhik al his fantasy Has geffyne to vice.
1551. Crowley, Pleas. & Payne, 63. Ye … Wych wythout me had come to nought.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. vii. 6. The master of my skiffe, whiche presently … was made fast by the leg.
a. 1600. Montgomerie, Sonn., lvi. 6. My teirs vhich so abound.
3. α. 1 hwylc, 2 hwulch, hulch, 2–3 wulc, 3 whulc(h, wulch, 5 whulche.
871–89. Charter, in O. E. Texts, 452/52. Swa hwylc mon swa hio wonie & breoce.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 15. Hwulc mon is þet nauet to broken elche dei þas godes laȝe þe ic eou nu cweð. Ibid., 27. hulche [see B. 6]. Ibid., 49. Nu ȝe habbeð iherd wulc hit is for to iheren godes weordes and heom ethalden.
c. 1205. Lay., 2303. Þu nast of whulche londe heo com heder liðen. Ibid., 20735. For whuiches cunnes þinge ligge we þus here.
c. 1400. St. Alexius (Vernon MS.), 207. I wolde fayn, & i wuste whulche.
β. 3 hwuc, hwu(c)ch, wucch, 3–5 wuch(e, woch(e, 4 whuche, (wȝuch), 4–5 whuch, whoche, 5 whoch, huch.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 189. And to-ȝenes hwuch fo man agh furðien seið þe holi apostle. Ibid., 219. For woche þinge he nemnede [etc.].
a. 1225. hwuc [see B. 1].
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1378. Bo wuch ho bo.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 110. Allas wȝuch serue and deol þer wes!
c. 1400. Beryn, 176. Huch þe Pardoner, & he, pryuely in hir pouchis Þey put hem aftirward.
1401. 26 Pol. Poems, iii. 36. Whoche party may strengere be.
1422. Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 143. Wylde bestis, amonge woche euery olt hym abow hym to whome he is prere [? pere].
B. Signification.
I. Interrogative and allied uses.
For the distinction between the dependent interrogative and the relative, cf. note s.v. WHAT A I.**
† 1. adj. Most usually predicative: Of what kind, quality or character; also attrib. what kind of: = L. qualis. (The interrogative corresponding to the demonstrative SUCH.) Obs.
In attrib. use (in sing.) sometimes followed by a.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., lxv. 467. Ðær ic hæbbe ʓetæht hwelc hierde bion sceal.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke vii. 39. He wiste hwæt & hwylc þis wif wære…, þæt heo synful is.
c. 1205. Lay., 10120. Men … talden him tiðende of alle þere fore þe Petrus dude in Rome, and whulcne [c. 1275 wochne] martirdom Petrus hauede vnder-fon.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 64. Hwon Godes prophete makede swuche mone of eien, hwuc mone wenestu is to moni mon … icumen … of hore eien?
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3212. Ðor he stunden for to sen Quilc pharaon wið hem sal ben.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1189. So hii miȝte lerni wiche brutons were.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 53. To wȝuche a Castel he alihte, Þo he wolde here for vs fihte.
1389. Wyclif, James i. 24. Anoon he forȝat which he was.
c. 1400. trans. Secr. Secr., Gov. Lordsh., 104. Whiche ys þy fayth, and þy lawe?
a. 1400–50. Bk. Curtasye, 301, in Babees Bk. To aske his nome, and qweche he be.
2. As general interrogative. (Mostly Obs.) † a. adj. = WHAT A. 13, 14. Obs. (or merged in 3 a.)
c. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., IV. xx[i]v. (1890), 348. Hwylc þearf is ðe husles?
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxiv. 3. Seʓe us … hwilc tacn si þines to-cymys.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 33. Þe engel … seweð a whilche wise and þuregh hwam þis blisse cumen sholde.
c. 1290. Beket, 2323, in S. Eng. Leg., 173. In ȝwat manere he was a-slawe and ȝwuch tyme he was ded.
c. 1305. Jud. Isc., 101, in E. E. P. (1862), 110. Siþþe ic fond mie louerd aslawe y not in whiche wise.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, Cant. 515. He leryd him in whilk degre,… and how he sould luf him.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., IV. i. 105. Clo. From my Lord to my Lady. Qu. From which Lord, to which Lady?
1715. Leoni, Palladio’s Archit. (1745), II. 65. Nor ought any one to wonder, which way such vast Quantities of earthen Ware came there.
1752. Chesterf., Lett., ccxcvi. (1792), IV. 6. In some congratulatory poem prefixed to some work, I have forgot which.
b. pron. = WHAT A. 1, 6. Also (OE. and occas. later) = Who. Obs. exc. as a humorous substitute for what.
971. Blickl. Hom., 169. Hwylc æteowde eow to fleonne fram ðon toweardan Godes erre?
c. 1290. St. Brendan, 569, in S. Eng. Leg., 235. Man mai i-seo ȝwuch it is to ȝyuen oþur mannes þing with wouȝ.
a. 1400. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., 240/738. Afftur þis schaltou witen þen Wȝuche ben þe comaundemens ten.
c. 1400. Brut, 22 (heading), How iiij kynges curteisely helde al Britaigne; and whiche beth here names.
1548–9. Bk. Com. Prayer, Catech. Tell me how many [commandments] there bee…. Tenne. Whiche be they?
a. 1592. Greene, Jas. IV., I. 657. Sike is the werld, but whilke is he I sawe?
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, II. i. 107. I haue manie ill qualities? Bene. Which is one? Mar. I say my prayers alowd.
1648. G. Sandys’s Par. Ps. cxiv. 9. Recoyling Seas, which [ed. 1638 what] caus’d your dread?
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xxxviii. ‘I want a so-and-so’ he says—some hard name or other. ‘A which?’ says the Captain.
1891. Kipling, Light that Failed, ix. Who’s interfering with which?
3. In limited sense, expressing a request for selection from a definite number: What one (or ones) of a (stated or implied) set of persons, things or alternatives. (The current use.) a. adj.
Sometimes, as in which way, indistinguishable from 2 a.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. vii. 9. Hwylc man is of eow ʓyf his sunu hyne bit hlafes sylst þu him stan?
c. 1386. Chaucer, Reeve’s T., 158. Whilk way is he geen?
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 12659. Þen þai fraynet qwiche freke, þat schuld first enter.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Kings iii. 8. Which waye wil we go vp?
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr., I iv. I know on which syde my bread is buttred.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., II. ix. 11. Neuer to vnfold to any one which casket ’twas I chose.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 73. Which way shall I flie?
1770. Foote, Lame Lover, II. A wise man should well weigh which party to take for.
1882. Besant, All Sorts, xxi. Bound for some American port—I forget which.
1917. T. R. Glover, The Jesus of Hist., iv. 70. When the question is asked, ‘Was Jesus the Messiah?’ the obvious reply is, ‘Which Messiah?’
b. pron. († occas., in dependent clause, with the.)
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. vi. 27. Quis autem uestrum … huælc uutetlice iurre?
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., John xix. 24. Ne slite we hy, ac uton hleotan hwylces ures heo sy.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 928. Among hom … strif me miȝte ise Woch mest maisters were.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 15275. Ful wel i wat þe quilk o yow Þe tresun has puruaid.
13[?]. St. Alexius, 207 (MS. Laud 108). Lauedi, I wille ful fayn, and I wiste wilk.
1402. Jack Upland, 28. Frere, how many orders be in erthe, and which is the perfitest order?
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 919. Quhilk that happynnit the lak, Couth na leid say!
1526. Tindale, John viii. 46. Which of you can rebuke me off synne?
1573–80. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 77. In making or mending as needeth thy ditch, get set to quick set it, learne cunningly whitch.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, V. iv. 72. Which is Beatrice? Beat. I answer to that name.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw., 2. Of these two I doe not know which to prefer.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., IV. iii. 94. I cannot tell … for which of his Vertues it was.
1660. Fuller, Mixt Contempl., xiii. 21. Two young Gentlemen were comparing their revenues together, vying which of them were the best.
1791. Cowper, Lett. to W. Bagot, 18 March. Indisposed … with gout or rheumatism, (for it seems uncertain which).
1857. Ruskin, Pol. Econ. Art, Addenda 191, note. The contest between them is not … which shall get everything for himself.
1889. Stevenson, Ballantrae, iii. But which is it to be? Fight or make friends?
4. adj. and pron. Repented (in sense 3): a. in each of two (or more) separate clauses, usually connected by a conj.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., lix. 451. He us ʓetacnode for hwelcum ðingum we sceolden ure godan weorc helan, & for hwelcum we hi sceolden cyðan.
c. 1200. Ormin, 471–2. Prestess … & dæcness … Shifftedenn hemm bitwenenn Whillc here shollde serrfenn first, Whillc siþþenn i þe temmple.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2562. Me nuste Woch was on ne woch was oþer.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), Prol. 17. To here … whilk were foles, & whilk were wyse.
1575. Turberv., Faulconrie, 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.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. I. 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. Shorthouse, John Inglesant, xxvii. Trying … to make out … which was noble and which was groom.
b. in the same clause, in abbreviated expressions, esp. which is which = which is the one and which is the other; so which goes with which, etc.; also with another interrog., as who is to have which.
A jocular variant is contained in the phr. to tell tother from which.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9290. Wel sal he cun knau quilk es quilk, Fra the wick þe god to scil.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XII. iii. (Bodl. MS.). Þe furste manere hawkes takep onelich here praie fleinge briddes and þe secunde manere haukes … reeseþ on briddes þt setteþ one þe grounde. And þe briddes knowiþ whiche is whiche.
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 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.
1559. Aylmer, Harborowe, K 4. It was not to bee iudged by the greatnes or smalnes, but which was whose.
1564. Harding, Answ. Jewel, 73. It is hard to fynde which keye serueth which locke.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Mark xv. 24. Casting lottes vpon them, who should take which.
1605. Shaks., Macb., III. iv. 127. What is the night? Almost at oddes with morning, which is which.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 41, ¶ 4. There does not need any great Discernment to judge which are which.
1849. C. Brontë, Shirley, xxiii. Caroline, looking round, met a new Robert,—the real Robert…. ‘Well,’ said he,… ‘which is which?’
1881. Miss Braddon, Asphodel, xii. To see which went best with which.
II. Exclamatory use.
† 5. adj. (in non-collective sing. followed by a): = WHAT B. 5, 5 b. Obs.
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xvi. § 2. Ʒif ʓe nu ʓesawan hwelce mus þæt wære hlaford ofer oðre mys,… mid hwelce hleahtre ʓe woldon bion astered.
a. 1175. [see A. 2 β].
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 19. Nimað ȝeme … hwilche ȝife he us ȝefeð.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 134. Þenc hwuch pinen he þolede.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7237. Hii seye þe soþnesse In wuch lecherie & oþer sunne þe prestes songe hor messe.
c. 1305. 11,000 Virgins, 62, in E. E. P. (1862), 67. Louerd, which a cumpaignye of clene maidenes was þere.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. X. 27. Whiche lordes beth þis shrewes!
c. 1386. Chaucer, Frankl. T., 714. Lo which a wyf was Alcestem.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 1807. He tellis quyche a tunne of tresoure he hauys.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, III. v. (1869), 139. Harrow, which gret woodshipe is þis.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 102. Lo, whiche a worschip sche hadde, & whiche a ioye.
III. Relative uses. * as simple relative.
6. adj. The ordinary relative adj.
Formerly in Sc. with pl. inflexion -s, is: see A. 2 α. For the construction with a prep., cf. 7 a.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 27. Þesne mon ic habbe itaken to mine aȝene bihofþe. Ma monna ic scolde biȝeten swa, bi hulche monna seið drihten in his spelle þa he þus cweþ [etc.].
c. 1250. Kent. Serm., in O. E. Misc., 30. Lecherie, spusbreche, Roberie,… and alle oþre euele deden, þurch wyche þinkes man ofserueth þet fer of helle.
13[?]. Northern Passion, 1309 (MS. Camb. Gg. I. 1). Þe tre of lif On woche [v.r. whilke] tre þat appil grewe.
c. 1400. Brut, 229. His flesshe was restorede aȝein,… for whiche miracle þe good man & his frendes louede God and Seint Thomas.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), II. 101. The thrydde realme was of Estesex … The kynges of whiche place … were obediente to other kynges.
1460. Capgrave, Chron. (Rolls), 166. He fond him ontretable; for whech cause the bischop cursid him.
1526. Tindale, Col. iii. 6. Fornicacion, vnclennes,… and covetousnes…: for which thynges sakes the wrath of god falleth on the chyldren off vnbeleve.
1585. Jas. I., Ess. Poesie (Arb.), 55. They are figures of Rhetorique and Dialectique, quhilkis airtis I professe nocht.
1610. Shaks., Temp., I. ii. 277. She did confine thee … Into a clouen Pyne, within which rift Imprison’d, thou didst painefully remaine A dozen yeeres.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 71. It rain’d all Night and all Day,… during which time the Ship broke in pieces.
1800. Wordsw., Hart-Leap Well. The monuments spoken of in the second part of the following Poem, which monuments do now exist as I have there described them.
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res., I. i. Concerning which last, indeed.
1892. Photogr. Ann., II. 883. A 5 × 4 camera … (which size is now the most popular).
7. pron. The ordinary relative pronoun introducing an additional statement about the antecedent, the sense of the principal clause being complete without the relative clause; thus sometimes equivalent to ‘and that (it, they, etc.).’ (Cf. THAT rel. pron. 2.)
In this and following senses formerly sometimes followed by that (THAT conj. 6), occas. by as (cf. AS adv. B. 27).
a. As obj. of a prep., which usually precedes which, but occas. stands at the end of the clause.
If the prep. depends on some other word (e.g., a sb. or numeral), that word (with any that qualify or govern it) usually stands immediately before the prep.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 11. Drihten him bi-tahte twa stanene tables breode on hwulche godalmihti heofde iwriten þa ten laȝe.
13[?]. Cursor M., 9540 (Gött.). Ilk-an gaf he substance an,… Widuten quhylk on nan manere Miht he in pes his kingriche ȝeme.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., iii. A boke … Off quhich the name Is clepit … Boece.
1451. Paston Lett., Suppl. (1901), 35. A letter … qwych I send yow a copy of.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. xi. 29. A springing well, From which fast trickled forth a siluer flood.
1603. in Gage, Hengrave (1822), 32. One payer of little orgaynes wth a board wh they stand on.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 17. Our Ship stuck a ground, with the noise of which, our Captain awoke.
1726. Adv. Capt. R. Boyle (1768), 113. Their Beards & Mustachoes … which they take a particular Pride in the Length or Largeness of.
1858. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., II. vii. I. 131. The Pope … being held … at a distance: the result of which was what we see.
1893. Max Pemberton, Iron Pirate, ii. A … Scotsman, who carried the economy of his race even to the extent of flesh, of which he was sparse.
b. As subject or object of a verb.
Formerly sometimes used where as is now idiomatic, as in quot. 1688: cf. 10.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter ix. 16. In þis snare whilke þai hid swa.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 132. His herbe propre is Rosmarine, Which schapen is for his covine.
c. 1400. Cursor M., 25391 (Cott. Galba). Þe blis of heuyn, Whilk seuyn vertuse vntill vs wins, And als fordose seuyn dedly sins.
1485. Caxton, Chas. Gt., 193. Eche took an hors … which ranne at al aduenture.
c. 1550. Rolland, Crt. Venus, Prol. 11. Complexiounis … Quhilkis ar thir four:… Phlegmatike … Sanguineane … Colerike … Melancolie, Quhilkis of nature ar wonder different.
1552. Lyndesay, Monarche, 4373. This is ane maruellous Monarche, Quhilk hes power Imperiall Boith of the body and the Saull.
a. 1613. Brerewood, Lang. & Relig. (1622), 201. The Italian, French, and Spanish: all which in a barbarous word haue beene called Romanse.
1650. Fuller, Pisgah, I. xiii. 41. The Hebrews measuring their land by a bow-shot,… which … admits of variation.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 331/2. The Pitchfork (or Pikel, which we vulgarly call it).
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 48. I spy’d a small piece of a Rope, which I wonder’d I did not see at first.
1825. T. Hook, Sayings, Ser. II. Passion & Princ., x. III. 209. ‘And so good night’: saying which, he urbanely shook hands.
1872. Morley, Voltaire, i. 3. Ideas … whose forms were old…, but which were full of seemingly inexhaustible novelty.
1875. Jevons, Money, xix. 246. The United States government tried a similar experiment, which was soon discontinued.
c. Referring to a fact, circumstance or statement.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 12. To make pes betwen the kynges … Which is the propre duete Belongende unto the presthode.
1516. in E. Lodge, Illustr. (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. in Essex Rev., XIII. 221. If she [sc. the ship] come not well home, which God forfende.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., V. ii. 34. You must now speake Sir Iohn Falstaffe faire, Which swimmes against your streame of Quality.
1669. Boyle, Contn. New Exp., I. xxxiv. 118. I order’d the Air to be let in very leisurely, upon which we could plainly see [etc.].
1699. Bentley, Phal., xii. 320. The last part of the Sentence not … answering to the first; which is the proper definition of a Solœcism.
1760. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, III. xxiv. I dragged her after me, by means of which she fell backwards soss against the bridge.
1787. J. Fea, Fish. Sc. Isl., 31. We have no Methodists settled amongst us, which is very fortunate; as their uncharitable tenets tends with weak minds to the most dangerous consequences.
1836. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Sentiment. Looking as amiable as they possibly could—which, by the by, is not saying much for them.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 1076. Yellow rosin contains some water, which black rosin does not.
1886. [E. H. Dering], In Light of 20th Cent., iv. 65. Observation … only shows what is visible, which life is not.
1914. ‘Ian Hay,’ Knt. on Wheels, xiii. § 3. They conformed to the rules,… observing the spirit rather than the letter of the law. Which was just as well.
d. With a conjunction in the relative clause, usually following which, rarely preceding. arch.
In early use more frequently with pleonastic personal pronoun (see 14). For sylleptic uses see 15.
[1510: see 13 b.]
a. 1548. Hall, Chron. Edw. IV., 214 b. To conuey hym selfe into some other place, without delay, which if he did they assured hym, yt he should haue neither hurte nor damage.
c. 1643. Ld. Herbert, Autobiog. (1824), 193. Oliver Herbert was forced to fly France, which, that he might do the better, I paid the said fencer 200 crowns.
1752. Fielding, Amelia, III. viii. The tears began to overflow—which, when he perceived, he stopt.
1796. Mrs. Inchbald, Nature & Art, xi. (1820), 29. Explanations followed all these questions; but which … require no recital here.
1835. ‘Stephen Oliver’ (W. A. Chatto), Rambles Northumb., 106. A girl … returning home from milking … saw many fairies gamboling in the fields, but which were invisible to her companions.
1871. Ruskin, Fors Clav., 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, Mano, II. iv. 76. Which when he saw, thither full fast ran he.
e. Introducing a parenthetic qualifying clause inserted in the principal clause. (Cf. sense 11, quots. 1599, 1719.)
1560. Rolland, Seven Sages (Bann. Club), 50. He purposit, quhilk was wors, My awin Lady … to defors.
1611. Beaum. & Fl., Maid’s Trag., III. ii. Are not you, Which is above all joyes, my constant friend?
1640. E. Reynolds, Passions, xvi. 174. Strange Sinnes too (which is the curiositie and corruption of Nature) are marvellous attractive.
1862. Ruskin, Unto this Last, ii. 40. Primarily, which is very notable and curious, I observe that men of business rarely know the meaning of the word ‘rich.’
1882. Besant, All Sorts, vii. When, which happened every day, they forgot their disguises for a while, they talked quite freely.
8. Introducing a clause defining or restricting the antecedent and thus completing the sense. Regularly so used after the antecedent that (THAT dem. pron. 6), or after a prep. (see b); in other cases the more regular relative is thăt (THAT rel. pron. 1).
In modern printing usually distinguished from 7 by the absence of a comma before the relative (as in speech by the absence of a pause).
† All which continued in literary use till c. 1850.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 170. So made god … Al erue, and wrim, and wilde der, Qwel man mai sen on werlde her.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 1434. Þe woundes … Wȝuche þat weoren on honden and feet.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 42. Man was maad to lord in alle creaturis, and forfetid not þat wyche synniþ not.
1598. B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., II. ii. (1601 Qo.). That land or nation best doth thriue, Which to smooth-fronted peace is most procliue.
1610. Shaks., Temp., V. i. 204. It is you, that haue chalk’d forth the way Which brought vs hither.
1611. Bible, Gen. i. 7. God … diuided the waters, which were vnder the firmament, from the waters, which were aboue the firmament.
1619. in Hales’ Gold. Rem., II. (1673), 125. This is all which is done this week.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), II. 335. Repairing the destruction, which they must often suffer, by their quick reproduction.
1824. L. Murray, Engl. Gram. (ed. 5), I. 74. After all which can be done, to render the definitions … comprehensive and accurate.
1834. Newman, Par. Serm., I. xix. 293. This is the path which leads to death.
1848. Pusey, Paroch. Serm., I. iv. (1873), 71. All which we are, except sin, He became.
1875. Jevons, Money, xx. 254. Let us suppose that there is a town which is able to support two banks.
1918. Act 8 Geo. V., c. 5 § 4 (2). If any person … makes … any statement which is false.
b. As obj. of a prep., which usually precedes the relative as in 7 a.
c. 1250. Kent. Serm., in O. E. Misc., 31. Alle þo sennen þurch wiche me liest po luue of gode almichti.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 17288 + 74. Þat friday was our leuedy day On wilk our lord slayn was.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sqr.’s T., 17, 18. And of the secte of which þat he was born He kepte his lay to which þat he was sworn.
c. 1450. Merlin, ii. 32. I moste go in to that contre ffro whiche these be come to fecche me.
1663. Extr. St. Papers rel. Friends, Ser. II. (1911), 173. Many more thinges which the controuersy of the Lord is against.
1700. Congreve, Way of World, II. iii. The Guilt with which you wou’d asperse me.
1830. Macaulay, Ess., Moore’s Life Byron (1843), I. 336. They wrote concerning things the thought of which set their hearts on fire.
1839. De la Beche, Rep. Geol. Cornw., etc., xiv. 459. A bar upon which the sea breaks occurs at the entrance of the Kingsbridge estuary.
¶ c. In anacoluthic construction, as in THAT rel. pron. 8. rare.
1729. Law, Serious C., ix. Direct your common actions to that end which they did.
9. Used of persons. Now only dial. except in speaking of people in a body, the ordinary word being who (objective whom) or (in sense b) that.
a. Introducing an additional statement, as in 7: thus sometimes = ‘and he (they, etc.).’
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter cxlv[i]. 3. Traiste never … in men sones, in whilk hele es nane.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Frankl. T., 94. Hire freendes whiche þat knewe hir heuy thoght Conforten hire. Ibid., Shipman’s T., 153. Yow which I haue loued specially.
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys, Caecilia, 201. Lord Jhesu Cryst, wych al thyng knowyst.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour, 65. The holy man whiche had pitee of his neuew, sorufull he yede into his chapell.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xxvi. 547. Charlemagn toke a messager whiche he sente to reynawde.
1526. Tindale, 1 Cor. xv. 57. Thankes be vnto God, whych hath geven vs victory.
1548–9. Bk. Com. Prayer, Matins, 2nd Collect. O God, which art author of peace, and louer of concorde.
1610. Shaks., Temp., I. ii. 342. I am all the Subiects that you haue, Which first was min owne King.
1692. O. Walker, Grk. & Rom. Hist., II. 310. He had nine Wives, all which he cast off successively.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 254. The Master-Bricklayer, or else his Foreman (which ought to be an ingenious Workman).
a. 1774. Goldsm., trans. Scarron’s Com. Rom. (1775), I. 200. A couple of women … one of which … leaned on the other’s shoulder.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., xxxiv. Had been told it herself by Mrs. Mudberry which kept a mangle, and Mrs. Bunkin which clear-starched.
1899. C. R. Gill, in Scribner’s Mag., XXV. 114/1. His mother had ten children, of which he was the oldest.
b. Introducing a defining clause, as in 8.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 224. Whan þei were inowe, on whilk þei mot afie.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 981. If ther be a confessour to which he may shriuen hym.
1483. Acta Audit., in Acta Dom. Conc., II. Introd. 106. Because he mariit without his consent quhilk is his ourlord.
1526. Tindale, Matt. v. 10. Blessed are they which suffre persecucion for rightewesnes sake.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. IV., 28 b. Entendyng to be reuenged on them whiche he sought for.
1600. Surflet, Country Farm, VI. xxii. 803. The reader which is carefull of his health, may learne to make choise of such wine.
1605. Shaks., Lear, IV. vi. 215. Euery one heares that, which can distinguish sound.
a. 1703. Burkitt, On N. T., Luke iv. 24. That Minister which prostitutes his Authority, frustrates the end of his Ministry.
1774. J. Bryant, Mythol., I. p. xiv. Those people which, I term Amonians.
1836. Jas. Grant, Random Recoll. Ho. Lords, x. 224. Dugald Stewart, one of the greatest men which Scotland has produced.
1841. Alison, Hist. Eur., IX. lxix. 202. The wounded, which were carried past…, never failed to salute the Emperor.
1909. Westm. Gaz., 9 July, 2/2. He is on the high road to get all the men for which he has asked.
c. Still regularly used of a person in reference to character, function, or the like, in which case the sense is really 7 or 8.
1645. Howell, Twelve Treat. (1661), 233. The subject of this Discours were more proper to One of the long-Robe, which I am not.
1797. Bp. Watson, Apol. Christ., vi. (ed. 6), 180. He put two maid servants, which were called ministers, to the torture.
1842. Borrow, Bible in Spain (1843), II. x. 208. He was by no means the profound philologist which the notary had represented him to be.
1855. Newman, Callista, xii. 108. He was not quite the craven … which she thought him.
10. Rarely used after an antecedent to which the ordinary correlative is as. a. after same: = THAT rel. pron. 4. b. after so or such: often equivalent to ‘that it (he, etc.).’
1340, etc. [see SAME A. 1 a].
c. 1386. [see SUCH B. 12].
1550. Veron, Godly Sayings, Ep. Ded. (1846), 19. Who is so dul,… whiche … would not be moued too thankefulnes?
1596. ‘L. Piot,’ Silvayn’s Orator, 401. No man ought to bind himselfe vnto such couenants which hee cannot … accomplish.
1605. Camden, Rem., Names, 45. Baruch, Hebr. the same which Bennet, blessed.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 326. A kind of wilde horsse which hath hornes like a Hart, and therefore I take it to bee the same which is called Hypellaphus.
1709, 1888. [see SUCH B. 12].
1802–12. Bentham, Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827), V. 321. There is not any argument so absurd, which is not daily received.
** as compound relative (or with ellipsis of antecedent).
† 11. pron. That which, one which, something that: = WHAT C. 1, 3 a; also of a person, One who; pl. Those which or who. Obs.
c. 1205. Lay., 2167. Al Albanakes folc folden i-scohten Buten while þat þer at-wond þurh wode burȝe.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 8837. He dremed of you which him affrayed.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, XI. 321. Na men he tuk bot quhilk he hydder brocht.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. John vii. 31. Should he do greater thynges then whiche this man doeth?
1579. Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 105. They interprete literally, which the doctors did write figuratiuely.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, IV. ii. 83. I am a wise fellow, and which is more, an officer, and which is more, a housholder.
1643. Digges, Unlawf. Taking up Arms, 8. I shall desire one thing especially may be remembred, as which hath great influence upon all cases.
1654. Z. Coke, Logick, 16. An ambiguous word is which indistinctly signifieth things that in nature are divers.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 75. I had the loose Earth to carry out; and which was of more Importance, I had the Cieling to prop up.
12. In generalized sense (adj. or pron.), with or without qualifying adv. (ever, so, etc.): Any (person or thing) that, whatever; usually, now always, with limitation of reference, as in 3: = WHICHEVER 1; also (with ever or soever) = WHICHEVER 2.
OE. swá hwilc (swá), ME. hwilch … so, se (see WHICH-SO), north. quilk sum, were ultimately superseded by which ever, soever (see WHICHEVER, WHICHSOEVER).
a. 890. Charter, in O. E. Texts, 451 Swa hwylc minra fædrenmeʓa swa ðæt sio.
900–30. O. E. Chron., an. 755 (Parker MS.). Þæs cyninges þeʓnas … þider urnon swa hwelc swa þonne ʓearo wearþ.
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. (Th.), cxxxvii[i]. 4 (3). Swahwylce daʓa ic þe deorne ciʓe.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 5, in O. E. Misc., 1. Bi wilc weie so he wile.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 8. O hwuche wise se heo euer wule.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 497. Brut bad corineus for to chese of ech contrei … Ȝwich … him likede best.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 16373. Ask quilk sum yee will haue.
c. 1400. Rule St. Benet (prose), liii. 35. Þabbesse … ouþir a-noþir nunne, wilke sam sho cumandis.
1464–5. in Acts Parlt. Scot. (1874), XII. 31/1. Thai personis … sall outhir entire þe kingis ward … or thane dewoide þe realmes … quhilk þat salbe seine maist expedient.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cccxli. 217/2. Whiche of them yt euer should breake this peace … shoulde rynne in the sentence of the pope.
1545. Raynalde, Byrth Mankynde, 134. Whiche of these wayes so euer it cume it shall be very good to bathe the chylde.
1602. Shaks., Ham., IV. vii. 13. My Vertue or my Plague, be it either which.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Home, ix. Nothing but drought and dearth,… Which way so-e’re I look, I see.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 75. Which way I flie is Hell; my self am Hell.
1690. Child, Disc. Trade (1698), 10. Which way ever we take our measures, to me it seems evident [etc.].
1753. Johnson, Adventurer, No. 69, ¶ 10. Which way soever he turned his thoughts, impossibility and absurdity arose in opposition on every side.
1824. Scott, St. Ronan’s, xvi. [He] lets a’things about the manse gang whilk gate they will.
1844. S. R. Maitland, Dark Ages, xv. 243. The table was so large that, place it which way they would, it could not be prevented from shewing above water.
1877. Tennyson, Harold, II. ii. 141. But wherefore is the wind, Which way soever the vane-arrow swing, Not ever fair for England?
*** 13. The which. arch. a. as adj. = 6.
13[?]. Cursor M., 9434 (Gött.). Þe first law was cald ‘of kinde,’… Þe toþer has ‘possitiue’ to name; Þe whilk lawe was forbed Adam. Forto ete þat fruit.
1447–8. J. Shillingford, Lett. (Camden, 1871), 26. The whiche copies all y pray yow avysely to over rede.
1526. Tindale, Heb. x. 10. By the which will we are sanctified.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 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.
1820. Byron, Mar. Fal., note, Wks. (1842), 193/1. Finished copying August … 1820; the which copying makes ten times the toil of composing.
a. 1850. Rossetti, Dante & Circle, I. (1874), 98. Of the which thing I bcthought me to speak unto her.
b. as pron. (a) = 7.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 1127. Wo & wikkede paine, Þe whiche þe heie godus haten.
1461. Paston Lett., II. 42. Desieryng to herre of ȝour welfar and good prosperite, the gwyche [sic] I pray God encresse.
1510. in Leadam, Sel. Cases Star Chamber (Selden Soc.), II. 69. If the whiche shuld contynewe … your seid Towne … shall wexe empty.
1526. Tindale, Gal. v. 21. The dedes of the flesshe … off the which I tell you before, as I have tolde you in tyme past.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. i. 36. Sweet slombring deaw, the which to sleepe them biddes.
1682. Bunyan, Holy War, iii. (1905), 209. He told too, the which I had almost forgot, how Diabolus had put the Town of Mansoul into Arms.
1812. Cary, Dante, Parad., XXII. 146. [This world] o’er the which we stride So fiercely.
1884. Tennyson, Becket, Prol. He holp the King to break down our castles, for the which I hate him.
(b) = 8.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 146. How god bigan þe law hym gyfe Þe quilk the Iuus in suld life.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XX. vii. 809. I told hym the peryls the which ben now fallen.
1526. Tindale, 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.
1611. Bible, James ii. 7. Doe not they blaspheme that worthy Name, by the which ye are called?
† c. as compound relative: = 11. Also qualified by soever: = 12. Obs.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., 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. Robinson, trans. More’s Utopia, I. (1895), 89. For there is no waye so proffytable … as the whiche hath a shewe and coloure of iustice.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 67. We follow not your fayth, as the which we have tasted to bee … most detestable.
1660. Heylin, Hist. Quinquart., 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.
† d. Of persons: = 9.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 52. Emme þe quene … of þe whilk was born Alfred & Edward.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Frankl. T., 452. This Briton clerk hymn asked of ielawes The whiche þat he had knowe in olde dawes.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, I. xviii. 64. Kynge Ryence of North walys the whiche was a myghty man of men.
c. 1500. Lancelot, 184. The metire and the cuning … Quhilk I submyt to the correccioune Of yaim the quhich that is discret & wys.
1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 172. Geue Christ, the quhilk hes me redrest, Be on my syde.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., II. i. 78. There are other Troians that yll dream’st not of, the which (for sport sake) are content to doe the Profession some grace.
1606. G. W[oodcocke], Hist. Ivstine, XXIII. 85. He the which was Lord of infinit riches to daie, was scarce maister of any to morrow.
**** Peculiar constructions. (See also 7 d, 8 c.)
14. (as pron. or adj.) With pleonastic personal pronoun or equivalent in the latter part of the relative clause, referring to the antecedent, which thus serving merely to link the clauses together: (a) with the pers. pron. (or the antecedent noun repeated) as subj. or obj. to a verb (principal or subordinate) in the relative clause, which is usually complex; (b) with genitive of pers. pron. (or equivalent, as thereof), which together with this being equivalent to the genitive of the relative (whose, of which): cf. THAT rel. pron. 9.
(a) c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, II. 654. Þis is he, which þat myn vncle swereth he mot be ded.
1449. Paston Lett., I. 84. Yowr wurschupfull ustate, the whyche All myghte God mayntayne hyt.
1481. Cov. Leet Bk., 493. Which yf it so be, we haue gret cause of displeasure.
1526. Tindale, John xxi. 25. There are also many other thynges which Jesus did, the which yff they shulde be written every won, I suppose [etc.].
1589. Puttenham, Engl. Poesie, III. iv. (Arb.), 159. Ye finde these words, penetrate, penetrable, indignitie, which I cannot see how we may spare them.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., IX. vi. § 27. 175. A Schedule containing his heresies, (which what they were may be collected by that which ensueth).
1690. Locke, Govt., II. v. § 42 (1694), 196. Provisions … which how much they exceed the other in value,… he will then see.
1726. Shelvocke, Voy. round World, 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. Sterne, Sent. Journ., II. Fragment. The history of myself, which, I could not die in peace unless I left it as a legacy to the world.
(b) c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, II. 318. Þe kynges dere sone,… which alwey for to do wel is his wone.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XVII. xi. 705. Ther is in this Castel a gentylwoman whiche we and this castel is hers.
c. 1530. Ld. Berners, Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814), 270. To do many thynges, the whyche the hurte therof lyghteth on theyr owne neckes.
1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. 164. Take away … mens credits, and estates…, which lies not afterwards in their power to make restitution thereof.
1721. Bradley, Philos. Acc. Wks. Nat., 90. Bulbous-rooted Plants, which when the Leaves of them decay, a new framed Root … supplies their Loss.
¶ b. Hence, in vulgar use, without any antecedent, as a mere connective or introductory particle.
1723. Swift, Mary the Cook-Maid’s Let., 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.
1862. Thackeray, Philip, xvi. ‘That noble young fellow,’ says my general…. Which noble his conduct I own it has been.
1870. Bret Harte, Truthful James, Answ. to Let., 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. Daily Chron., 21 Oct., 4/7. If anything ’appens to you—which God be between you and ’arm—I’ll look after the kids.
¶ 15. In sylleptic construction, e.g., as obj. of two different verbs, or of a prep. and a verb, or as obj. of one verb and subj. of another; giving the effect of ellipsis of a personal pronoun (it, them).
1687. Wood, Life (O.H.S.), III. 238. Dr. Dolbein … did read much of his sermon before the king … which the king telling him of, he never after did.
a. 1697. Horneck, Gt. Law Consid., v. (1702), 302. To see me roll Sisyphus his Stone, which when I have brought to such a pitch, rolls down again.
1741. Johnson’s Debates (1787), I. 390. A quality … which, if we could obtain, would add nothing to our honour.
1796. Eliza Hamilton, Lett. Hindoo Rajah (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, Lit. Rem. (1854), 24. These were works which, though I often inspected, I did not accurately study.
16. Preceded by and. a. in regular construction, and connecting two relative clauses, or an adjectival phrase and a relative clause, qualifying the same sb.
1579–80. North, Plutarch, J. Cæsar (1595), 771. An army vnuincible, & which they could not possibly withstand.
1668. Dryden, Dram. Poesy, Ess. 1900, I. 78. We have many plays of ours as regular as any of theirs, and which, besides, have more variety of plot and characters.
1779. Johnson, L. P., Addison (1868), 225. Two books yet celebrated … for purity and elegance, and which, if they are now less read, are neglected only because [etc.].
1804–6. Syd. Smith, Mor. Philos. (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.
1810. Southey, Ess. (1832), I. 40. The subject … was one of great difficulty and which required very serious consideration.
1876. Ruskin, Fors Clav., lxx. VI. 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.
¶ b. in erroneous or illogical use, either and or which being superfluous.
1606. G. W[oodcocke], Hist. Ivstine, etc. L l 3. Galeaze … who had conquered a great part of Italy, and which inheritance discended to his Nephews.
1608. Topsell, Serpents, 288. His forefeet being like hands, are forked and twisted very strong, & with which it fighteth and taketh his prey.
1748. G. White, in Jrnl. Sacred Lit. (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. Mrs. Inchbald, Nature & Art, xvi. (1820), 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, Locomot. Eng. (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. Dasent, Burnt Njal, 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.
