▪ I. whether, pron., a., conj. (n.)
(ˈhwɛðə(r))
Forms: see below.
[OE. hwæþer and hweþer, corresp. to OFris. hwed(d)er, h(w)oder, ho(e)r (NFris. wader), OS. hweðar one of two, whether, OHG. hwedar, wedar which of two, neut. whether, either, (MHG. weder, surviving in G. weder neither), ON. hvaðarr, nom. pl. hvárer (whence sing. hvárr), which of two, each, neut. whether (Sw. hvar each, mod.Icel. hvorr), Goth. hwaþar which of two:—OTeut. *χwaþaraz, *χwe-, f. χwa-, χwe- who + comp. suffix (Indo-eur. -tero-) as in other (cf. Skr. katará-, Gr. πότερος, Lith. katràs). Either (OE. ǽᵹhwæþer) is a compound of whether. With forms of the γ-type cf. OHG. diu hwiduru, thoh-widaro though-whether, early mod.G. wider neither; with forms of the δ-type OFris. hwoder; and with forms of the ε-type OFris. hoer, hor (but in ME. north. texts hwor may represent ON. hvárr).]
A. Illustration of Forms.
(α) 1 hwæðer, -þer, -der, 1–3 hwaþer, 3 whæðer, whaðer, -der, (wahðer), 3–4 waþer, 4 quaþer.
| 8.. in O.E. Texts 444 Sue hwaeder suae. Ibid. 452 Hwaðer. 900–30 O.E. Chron. an. 894 (Parker MS.) Bi swa hwaþerre efes swa hit þonne fierdleas wæs. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. John iv. 33 Hwæðer æniᵹ man him mete brohte? c 1205 Lay. 20877 Whæðer [c 1275 waþer] swa ich wulle don oðer slæn oðer ahon. Ibid. 23593–5 Whaðer unkere..wahðer vinkere. 13.. Cursor M. 13596 (Gött.) To mistrouu..Quaþer forwid blind al had he bene. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 486 Waþer þe wil or no. |
(β) 1 hueðer, 1–3 hweðer, -þer, 3 weðer, -þer, queðer, (ȝweðer, -ur), Orm. wheþþr, 4 wheiþer, queþer, quedir, -ur, Sc. quhethyr(e, 4–5 wheþer, -ire, -ur(e, whethere, -ir(e, -yr, wethir, quether, -þir, whedir, -ur, queder, 4–6 wheder, Sc. quhethir, quhedir, 4–7 wheither, 5 whethur, wheithir, whedere, -yr(e, wedir, quethire, -ur, qweþer, -ther, -þire, Sc. quheþer, -ir, quheythir, qwheþir, -dyr, -yar, 5–6 wheddur, 6, 9 dial. -er, Sc. quhether, 4– whether.
| c 825 Vesp. Ps. cxxxviii[i]. 24 Et vide si via iniquitatis in me est, & ᵹeseh hweðer weᵹ unrehtwisnisse in me is. c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xxvii. 17 Quem uultis dimittam uobis, hueðerne wallas ᵹie ic forleto iowh? a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1101 Loc hweðer þæra ᵹebroðra oðerne oferbide. c 1200 Ormin 526 Illc an hird wel wisste inoh, Wheþþr itt to serrfenn shollde [etc.]. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 155 On is weðer þe eorðe beo bicumeliche to þe sede, þat oðer weðer hit beo riht time þer to. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1471 Queðer here sulde birðen bi-foren. c 1290 St. Austin 60 in S. Eng. Leg. 25 Are ich habbe more vnderȝite: ȝweþur þis Message beo trewe. a 1300 Cursor M. 44 Quedur [v.rr. queþer, wheþer] þai be worthi or bale or bote. c 1300 Havelok 2098 Betere is i go miself, and se Hweþer he sitten nou, and wesseylen. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1109 Sware with trawþe, Queþer, leude, so lymp lere oþer better. 13.. Northern Passion 1006 (Camb. Gg. 5. 31) Wheder he will hym safe or spyll. c 1325 Spec. Gy Warw. 272 Wheiþer þeih wolen, or þeih nelle. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 1829 He es uncertayne Whether he sal wend til ioy or payne. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints i. (Petrus) 421 Quhedir he A lele man or a lear be. c 1420 Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1903) 276 Þo iewys kestyn at þe dys Qweþer xuld han hys cloth. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 5 The ferde questioun is quheythir bataill be lefull to be done. c 1500 Lancelot 1186 Qwheyar if yone bee Our presoner, my consell Is we see. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. cccxiv. 195 b/1 The kynge lende or gaue him I can nat tell wheder, a .lx. thousande frankes. 1526 Tindale Matt. xxi. 31 Whedder of these ij fulfylled there fathers wyll? 1533 Gau Richt Vay 80 Quhedir he be pape or patriarch. 1585 Jas. I Ess. Poesie (Arb.) 60 Quhether the lyne be lang or short. |
(γ) (1 hwiðer), 4 whydyr, 5 whyder, qwydyr, 5–6 Sc. quhither, 5–7 Sc. quhidder, 6 Sc. whidder, quhiddir, qwhider, 6–7 whither, 7 Sc. quither.
| 9.. ælfred Gregory's Past. C. xliv. 330 (Cott. MS.) Hwonne bið ðæt, ðæt ðu nyte hwiðer ðu maran wilniᵹe? 13.. Lay Folks' Catech. (L.) 1258 Noman wot whydyr he may be worþy to haue hate or loue of god. c 1400 Rule St. Benet (verse) 92 Here may we chese, Whyder we our-self wyll saue or lese. 1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye i. xviii. 48 Whither comest thow to chyrche to slepe or to wake? c 1460 J. Metham Wks. (1916) 146 Qwydyr y[t] schuld preue fayr or foule. c 1480 Henryson Sheep & Dog 1199 (Harl. MS.) Quhidder the scheip suld answer in iugement Before the wolf. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. (Rolls) II. 144 Quhither it wes, thairof haif I no feill. 1546 Suppl. Poore Commons (E.E.T.S.) 4 Whither this lawe be indifferent or not. 1583 Leg. Bp. St. Androis 285 Whidder hir malisone tuike effect, Or gif it was the gude wyne sect. 1614 Sir W. Mure Misc. Poems iii. (title), Ane reply to I cair not quither I get hir or no. a 1699 J. Beaumont Psyche xviii. cix, Yet whither you will bow down your Consent To our meek Doctrines. |
(δ) 4 woþer, wother.
| 13.. Northern Passion 1984 (Camb. Gg. i. 1) Ihesus..bad scho suld to Petir gane..Wother a ben in boure or halle. a 1400 R. Glouc. Chron. (1724) 388 Woþer of hem tueye lenger alyue were. |
(ε) contr. 3 whær, wer(e, ware, 3–5 whar, 4 hwere, hwor, war, quer(e, 4–7 wher, (9 dial.) where, 5 wherr', quar, quare, 7 wher'.
Editors of Shakespeare have printed whêr, whe'er, and whe'r, with no authority from the folios or quartos.
| c 1205 Lay. 13839 Of eou ich wulle iwiten..whar ȝe wullen beon treowe. Ibid. 18545 Ah inæt whær [c 1275 ware] heo hine luuede. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2747 He esste at is clerkes, were it to leue were. Ibid. 6923 Þe king hire esste sturneliche wer heo wolde þe dom do. a 1300 Cursor M. 13451, I dar noght sai Quere þis was þat ilk or nai. Ibid. 23803 We haf us forwit waies tua, Þe tan to wel, þat toþer wa, Quer we will freli mai we ta. c 1300 Havelok 1119 Godrich..seyde, ‘hwor þou wilt be Quen and leuedi ouer me?’ c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 84 Ony synful wrecche, þat wot neuere where he schal be dampnyd or sauyd. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 1381 Þat mayde..askede war he hed On his body any wounde. c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 1539 Ne reccheth neuere wher I synke or fleete. ? 1462 Stonor Papers (Camden) I. 55 Where ye wil come in to Devenshire to abide other no. 1567 Turberv. Ovid's Ep. xv. (? 1580) M iv, I doubtfull stoode where powre or vertue were the best of twaine. 1595 Shakes. John i. i. 75 But where I be as true begot or no. 1618 Wither Motto, Nec Habeo 196, I care not wher' they thinke I loue or no. 1660 Wood Life (O.H.S.) I. 334 The captain..asked him where he was willing to shed blood. 1825 Jennings Obs. Dial. W. Eng. 180 I'll hirn auver an zee where I can't help 'em. |
B. Signification. I. pron. and adj. Which of the two. Obs., arch., or dial.
Occas. used loosely of more than two: cf. either A. 2 c, 4 c. The pron. is occas. found with the gen. inflexion -es, -s.
1. In direct questions. a. pron.
| c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xxi. 31 Hwæðer þara tweᵹra dyde þæs fæder willan? a 1225 Ancr. R. 284 Hweðeres fere wult tu beon? Ibid. 364 Of two men, hweðer is wisure? a 1300 Cursor M. 14045 Queþer o þir tua aght luue him mare? c 1400 Laud Troy Bk. 3477 And whether schulde Mayster be, Thei of Grece or Troye Cite? 1528 More Dyaloge i. Wks. 163/2 Whether of them would ye beleue best? 1583 Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. (1882) 73 There is both a reading and a preaching ministerie: whether doe you prefer before the other? 1601 Shakes. All's Well iv. v. 23 Whether doest thou professe thy selfe, a knaue, or a foole? 1662 H. More Antid. Ath. ii. xi. §13 (1712) 78 Whether of them, think you, is the plainer pledge of a knowing and a designing Providence? 1753 Richardson Grandison (1754) II. v. 71 Perturbations delightful, or undelightful, Harriet, whether? 1872 Tennyson Gareth & Lynette 333 Whether would ye? gold or field? |
b. adj. (rare.)
| 1629 Gaule Pract. Theories Christ 115 We know which Sex Fell first; whether can boast of more honour in the Recouerie? 1671 H. M. tr. Erasm. Colloq. 524 Whether thing is heavier water or wine? |
2. In indirect questions, or dependent clauses of similar meaning. (Cf. note s.v. what A. I **.) a. pron.
| c 1000 ælfric Hom. I. 256 Ᵹif man openað deaddra manna byrgynu, nast ðu hwæðer beoð þæs rican mannes ban, hwæðer þæs ðearfan. c 1055 Byrhtferth's Handboc in Anglia VIII. 303 Cweð hwæðer þe selre þince. c 1200 Moral Ode 240 (Trin. Coll. MS.) Niten hweðer hem doð wers. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2564 Me nuste to weþer hii bicome þe children þat hii bere. 1357 Lay Folks' Catech. (L.) 970 Ilke man þat haþ resun wot wheþer ys better to chese. 1424 Stonor Papers (Camden) I. 35 Þe processe is..retournable at þe oeptes or þe quinzisme, I not qwether. 1470–85 Malory Arthur vii. xvii. 238 There was none that beheld them myghte knowe whether was lyke to wynne the bataill. a 1568 R. Ascham Scholem. i. (Arb.) 82 Now new, now olde, now both, now neither, To serue the worldes course, they care not with whether. 1613 Jackson Creed i. ii. x. §3 They did not rightly apprehend the manner of the worlds destruction by them, nor whethers course was first passed. 1624 Massinger Parlt. Love i. v, I am troubled With the toothach, or with love, I know not whether. 1726 Swift Gulliver ii. i, We came in full View of a great Island or Continent, (for we knew not whether). a 1794 Sir W. Jones in Parr's Wks. (1828) VII. 210 It is indifferent to me, as a friend to the people, whether of the two sit in Parliament. 1852 Robertson Serm. Ser. iii. xii. (1857) 172 The question..whether of the two sections held the abstract right. |
b. adj.
| c 893 ælfred Oros. iii. i. §6 Þæt is mid Crecum þeaw þæt mid ðæm worde bið ᵹecyþed hwæðer healf hæfð þonne siᵹe. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 773 He nuste to ȝweþer doȝter betere truste þo. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 217 Whan the fader..sih to whether side it drowh. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) V. 405 The manifestacion of a notable signe wheder parte awe to be folowede. 1598 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. i. i. Eden 655 What children there [sc. in Eden] they earned, and how many, Of whether sex. 1613 Day Dyall ix. (1614) 218 A controversie there is which they are that are in whither Table. 1656 Bramhall Replic. i. 43 Whether the separation be criminous, whether party made the first separation,..whether side gave the cause,..is not so easy to be discerned. 1690 T. Burnet Rev. Th. Earth 46 You know in whether Scale the Natural Reasons are to be laid. 1702 H. Dodwell Apol. in S. Parker Cicero's De Finibus a 8, The Dispute..whether Life is the more to be preferred, the Active, or the Contemplative. |
c. Phr. whether is whether, which is which (of the two). Obs. or dial.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 3447 Þan wete men neuer, wheþer ys wheþer. c 1375 Cursor M. 9290 (Fairf.) Wele salle he knaw queþer is quilk. 1596 Spenser F.Q. iv. ix. 10 She vneath discerned, whether whether weare. 1828 Craven Gloss. s.v. Whether, I cannot tell whether is whether. |
3. In generalized or indef. sense: Whichever of the two: (a) as comp. relative, the implied antecedent belonging to the principal clause; (b) introducing a qualifying clause: No matter which of the two. a. pron.
| (a) c 1205 Lay. 23593 Whaðer unkere swa beoð þere sone he bið þe laðere. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 7967 Hii acordede..Þat weþer of hom tueye lengore aliue were Þat he ssolde be oþeres eir. 13.. Cursor M. 7463 (Gött.) And queþer may oþer ouercome in feild, Þe toþer folk all to him helde. c 1386 Chaucer Wife's T. 371 Now chese your seluen wheither þat yow liketh. c 1430 Two Cookery-bks. 33 Serue it forth for a potage, or for a gode Bakyn mete, wheder þat þou wolt. 1551 Robinson tr. More's Utopia i. (1895) 86 To kepe still the one of this .ii. kingdomes, whether he would. 1611 Bible Ecclus. xv. 17 Before man is life and death, and whether him liketh shalbe giuen him. 1663 in Picton L'pool Munic. Rec. (1883) I. 333 You are to p{supr}sent noe..p'son both for lands and goods, but for wheth{supr} you estimate to be of the better value. 1692 Bentley Boyle Lect. v. 29 Let them take whether they will. 1764 E. Moxon Engl. Housew. (ed. 9) 123 Put it into your sillabub-glasses or pots, whether you have. |
| (b) a 1300 Cursor M. 2463 Queder þou ches, on right or left, I sal ta me þat þou haues left. c 1400 Gamelyn 249 Weþer þat it be, He þat comes ones in þine hande schal he neuer þe. 1583 Greene Mamillia 1 It was in doubt, whether he wanne more fauour for his wit, or feare for his ryches:..but sure whether it were, he had gayned the heartes of all the people. 1632 Brome Novella ii. ii, There is some hidden vertue in this fellow, Or dangerous ill: but whether let it be. |
b. adj.
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 404 Wheþer pope men nennen, þei bileven not þat he is Cristis viker. c 1430 Hymns Virgin 32 Bothe ȝonge & oolde, wheþir ȝe be, in cristis name good cheer ȝe make. 1523–34 Fitzherb. Husb. §144 Nowe arte thou at thy lyberty, to chose whether waye thou wylt. 1600 Holland Livy v. i. 179 It seemed, whether part were vanquished, should come to finall destruction. 1654 Gataker Disc. Apol. 15 But cal the day by which, or whether term of them you please. 1671 J. Webster Metallogr. i. 3 Whether way soever it be taken, it is apparent [etc.]. |
† c. With the indef. sense expressed by adding an intensive adv.: see whetherever, whetherso, whethersoever, whethersum. Obs.
II. conj.
1. As an interrogative particle introducing a disjunctive direct question, expressing a doubt between alternatives. Usually with correlative or; occas. repeated before the second alternative (cf. 3). Obs. or rare arch.
| c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xxi. 25 Hwæðer wæs iohannes fulluht, þe of heofonum, þe of mannum? Ibid. Luke v. 23 Hwæðer is eðre to cweþenne, þe synd þine synna forᵹyfene; hwæþer þe cweþan, aris & ga? a 1300 Cursor M. 12292 Leif sun, me sai, Queþer þou put barn or nai? 1382 Wyclif Matt. xxvii. 17 Whom wole ȝee, I leeue, or delyuere, to ȝou? wher Barabas, or Jhesu. c 1400 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton) i. xxx. (1859) 34 Whether shal the lord refuse this seruaunt either els he shal receyue hym? 1535 Lyndesay Satyre 2255 Sir, quhidder is ȝour pardon black, or blew? 1595 Shakes. John i. i. 134 Whether hadst thou rather be a Faulconbridge,..Or the reputed sonne of Cordelion? 1596 ― Merch. V. iii. ii. 117 Moue these eies? Or whether riding on the bals of mine Seeme they in motion? 1610 Healey St. Aug. Citie of God x. xxvi. (1620) 375 Whether would he haue us subiect to those Angels that declare the wil of the Father vpon earth, or vnto him whose will they declare? 1713 Berkeley Hylas & Phil. i. (1725) 5 Whether does Doubting consist in embracing the Affirmative or Negative Side of a Question? a 1822 Shelley Ion Pr. Wks. 1888 II. 115 Whether do you demonstrate these things better in Homer or Hesiod? |
† b. Introducing an alternative statement, or standing at the end of a disjunctive question or phrase with or (cf. either B. 5). Obs. rare.
| 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 203 Wheþer hade he no helme ne hawbergh nauþer,..Ne no schafte, ne no schelde,..Bot in his on honde he hade a holyn bobbe. 1599 Shakes., etc. Pass. Pilgr. vii. 17 Was this a louer, or a Letcher whether? 1608 Bp. Hall Pharis. & Chr. (1609) B 3, The Sect (or order whether) of the Phariseis ceassed with the Temple. |
† 2. Introducing a simple direct question, thus becoming a mere sign of interrogation (but often with verb in subjunctive, and almost always without inversion of subject and verb, as if depending on a principal clause understood: cf. 4). Obs.
| c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xx. 15 Hwæþer þe þin eaᵹe manful ys, forþam þe ic god eom? a 1300 Cursor M. 5178 Lauerd! quer i sal him euer se? c 1300 Havelok 292 Godrich..seyde, ‘Hweþer she sholde be Quen and leuedi ouer me?’ 13.. Bonaventura's Medit. 102 Eche loked on ouþer..And seyd, ‘lorde wheþer hyt be y?’ 1382 Wyclif Matt. xiii. 55 Wher is nat this the sone of a smyth, or carpenter? Wher his modir be nat seid Marie? c 1420 Chron. Vilod. 1213 Wher þe holy gost wolnot as gladlyche wone Vnder a mantyl y-furned w{supt} beuer..As vnder a mantyl y-furned w{supt} a row gotus felle? 1483 Cath. Angl. 415/2 Whedirnot, eciam, numquid, nonne. 1549 Latimer 1st Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 38 Whither wyl he alowe a subiect to much?.. Whether haue any man here in England to much? 1588 A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. 67 Quhat is Baptisme? and quhidder it be necessare to all mankynd? |
3. Introducing a disjunctive dependent question or its equivalent expressing doubt, choice, etc. between alternatives: usually with correlative or († other, † þe, etc.). Sometimes repeated after (or without) or before the second or later alternative. Often with verb in subjunctive (and so in following senses); also with to and inf.
| c 1000 ælfric Hom. II. 120 Eft ða Gregorius befran, hwæðer þæs landes folc cristen wære ðe hæðen. c 1205 Lay. 905 Þer wes moni riche mon þe cuðe lutel reden weðer [c 1275 waþer] heom weore wnsumre to faren þe to wonien. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 2312 Loke nu..hweðer þe beo leouere don þat ich þe leare..oðer þis ilke dei..deien. c 1250 Gen. & Exod. 3272 Egipcienes woren in twired wen queðer he sulden folȝen or flen. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 4507 In woch half turne he nuste þo weþer est þe west. a 1300 Cursor M. 4918 Now wel is sene Queþer þat yee be fule or clene. a 1300 [see A. ε]. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xii. 268 And where he be sauf or nouȝt sauf þe sothe wote no clergye. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. Prol. 499 [487] ‘Wostow’ quod he ‘wher this be wif or maide?’ 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy iii. 4866 She lokkid hym vnder swiche a keye, Þat he wot nat wher to lyue or deye. 1528 More Dyaloge ii. Wks. 177/2 There was principally in question whither woorshyppyng of ymages..were lawfull or not. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. (Rolls) II. 172 The Scottis than weill wist nocht in that caice, Quhidder to byde or follow on the chace. 1580 Lyly Euphues Wks. 1902 II. 176 If I shoulde aske you whether in the making of a good sworde, yron were more to bee required, or steele. 1610 Shakes. Temp. v. i. 123 Whether this be, Or be not, I'le not sweare. 1658 W. Burton Anton. Itin. 102 There remain yet two doubts: First: whether this Prætenture, or Wall, was made of Stone, or of Turfs. 1707 Mortimer Husb. (1721) I. 63 He does not remember whether every Grain came up or not. 1819 Shelley Lett. Prose Wks. 1888 II. 292, I am exceedingly interested in the question of whether this attempt of mine will succeed or no. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. iv. I. 464 His neighbours might well doubt whether it were more dangerous to be at war or at peace with him. 1872 Morley Voltaire i. 3 More than two generations had almost ceased to care whether there be any moral order or not. |
4. By suppression of the second alternative, whether comes to introduce a simple dependent question, and becomes the ordinary sign of indirect interrogation = if 9.
| c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xxvi. 25 Cwyst þu, lareow, hwæðer ic hyt si? Ibid. xxvii. 49 Utun ᵹeseon hwæþer helias cume & wylle hyne alysan. a 1023 Wulfstan Hom. xlvi. (1883) 233 Ðonne se ðe oðerne tælan wille, þonne..beþence [he] hine sylfne..hwæðer hine ne mæᵹe æniᵹ man ᵹetælan. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 121 Lokiað hweðer enies monnes sar beo iliche mine sare. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 6471 Me ne dar noȝt esse, weþer he were kene þo & prout. a 1300 Cursor M. 13097 Yee ask him if he be þat gom Þat for man sauuete suld com,..Or his word he send vs þan Queþer we sal bide a-noþer man? c 1386 Chaucer Sqr.'s T. 571 Wher me was wo, that is no question I kan nat make of it discripsion. c 1395 Plowman's T. 834 Ech man loke whether that I ly. 1470–85 Malory Arthur vii. xx. 244 He mette with a poure man..& asked hym whether he mette not with a knyghte. 1521 Fisher Serm. agst. Luther iv. Wks. (1876) 317 Se now here wheder chryst was not the mouthe of Peter whan he promoted his cause. 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxxvii. §9 Some are doubtfull whether any man may seeke for it [sc. the ministry] without offence. 1616 B. Jonson Epigr. xcvi, Who shall doubt, Donne, where I a Poet bee, When I dare send my Epigrammes to thee? 1676 Ray Corr. (1848) 122 Tell me whether any such bird be known to you. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 383 ¶1 A loud chearful Voice enquiring whether the Philosopher was at Home. 1818 Scott Br. Lamm. xxxi, Uncertainty..whether her letter had been ever forwarded. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. iii. I. 390 Thither the Londoners flocked..to hear whether there was any news. |
5. Introducing a disjunctive clause (usually with correlative or) having a qualifying or conditional force, and standing in adverbial relation to the main sentence (cf. whatever 3, wherever 4): whether..or = whichever of the alternative possibilities or suppositions be the case; in either of the cases mentioned; if on the one hand..and likewise if on the other hand.
Sometimes repeated with each alternative (occas. with omission of or, or substitution of and); but most frequently with ellipsis in the second alternative, the or connecting two predicates, objects, etc., or the second alternative being reduced to a simple negative or the like (or not, or otherwise, etc.; see also no adv.1 2, and 6 b below).
| a 1250 Owl & Night. 1360, 1362 (Cotton MS.) Wummon mai pleie under cloþe Weþer [Jesus MS. hweþer] heo wile wel þe wroþe & heo mai do bi mine songe Hwaþer [Jesus MS. hweþer] heo wule wel þe wronge. a 1300 Cursor M. 6618 O þis watur he gert ilkan Drinc, quer he wald or nan. 13.. Ibid. 10205 (Gött.) If þai ani child miht haue, Queþer þat it ware scho or he. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. I. 321 Þat þis world is beterid bi everyþing þat falliþ þerinne, where þat it be good or yvel. 1470–85 Malory Arthur ii. v. 81 Ye shal abyde whether ye will or nyll. 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. iii. i. 156 Thou shalt remaine here, whether thou wilt or no. 1611 Bible Rom. xiv. 8 Whether [Tindale yf] we liue, we liue vnto the Lord: and whether [Tindale yf] wee die, we die vnto the Lord; whether [so in Tindale] wee liue therefore or die, we are the Lords. 1678 Butler Hud. iii. ii. 174 For Loyalty is still the same, Whether it win or lose the Game. 1732 Pope Ess. Man ii. 12 Alike in ignorance, his reason such, Whether he thinks too little, or too much. 1796 Burney Mem. Metastasio II. 389 Now I am forced to finish my letter, whether I will or no. 1818 Coleridge Friend I. 335 That Reason which remains always one and the same, whether it speaks through this or that person. 1857 Buckle Civiliz. I. vii. 347 Whether it is fair, or whether it is wet, he pursues his labours with equal success. |
b. with ellipsis in both alternatives: often virtually equivalent to either.
| c 1205 [see whether A. α]. 1594 Willobie Avisa xxxiii. vi, But what to me? where false or true, Where liue or die, for aye Adue. 1606 Bp. Hall Medit. & Vows i. x, So great distrust is there in man, whether from his impotencie or faithlesnes. 1667 Milton P.L. iii. 523 The Stairs were then let down, whether to dare The Fiend by easie ascent, or aggravate His sad exclusion from the dores of Bliss. 1732 Berkeley Alciphr. vii. §11 This, I say, whether right or wrong. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. iii, I knew he would act a good part whether vanquished or victorious. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. iv. I. 463 All other governments. whether republican or monarchical, whether Protestant or Roman Catholic. 1867 Freeman Norm. Conq. I. App. D. 627 William, whether by accident or by design, was not admitted. 1913 Daily Graphic 19 Feb. 8/1 The increase in the number of officials.., which should give pause to every man, whether Liberal or Tory. |
6. whether or no (no adv.1 2), less freq. not. a. as conjunctive phr. introducing a dependent interrog. clause, as in 3.
| 1650 Sanderson Cases (1678) 93 The next enquiry must be, Whether or no the words of the Engagement will reasonably bear such a construction. a 1657 Sir W. Mure Ho. Rowallane Wks. (S.T.S.) II. 240 Not verie certaine whey{supr} or not brethren y{supr}of at one & the same time, do beare the armes of the paternall coat. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 92 ¶5 Whether or no they are real Husbands or personated ones I cannot tell. 1852 Thackeray Esmond i. ix, What matters whether or no I make my way in life. 1871 Morley Crit. Misc. Ser. i. 174 As Protestants always ask of so much of Catholicism as they have dropped, whether or no it is true. |
b. introducing a qualifying clause, as in 5.
| 1665 Boyle Occas. Refl. ii. iv. 27 They..help to make the man good, whether or no they make his style be thought so. 1868 Swinburne Blake 88 The shape or style of workmanship each artist is bound to look to, whether or no he may..trouble himself about the moral..bearings of his work. |
c. ellipt. as adv. phr. In any case, at all events.
| 1784 Unfortunate Sensibility I. 182 Whether or no, this coat shall be my favourite coat. 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop lxviii, Was it natural that at that instant, without any previous impulse or design, Kit should kiss Barbara? He did it, whether or no. 1873 Morley Struggle Nat. Educ. 79 You may say that this is to degrade the state. Possibly. But whether or no, this is the principle already..acted upon. 1904 S. Weyman Abb. Vlaye xiii, ‘God help us whether or no!’ the Vicomte answered in senile anger. |
7. whether for a penny: undecided, uncertain. dial.
| 1672 W. Walker Parœm. 28, I am unresolved; I am whether for a penny. |
8. as n., with pl. whethers. a. In phr. at whethers: see quot. dial.
| 1828 Craven Gloss. s.v. Whethers, ‘To be at whethers’, to be in a state of doubt or uncertainty. ‘I stend at whethers’. |
b. nonce-use (from 4).
| 1827 Hood Kangaroos 68 In weighing every why and whether. 1836 Dickens Sk. Boz, Sentiment, Whether she was engaged, whether she was pretty,..and many other whethers of equal importance. |
▪ II. † whether, adv. Obs.
Forms: 1 hwæþ(e)re, 2 hweðer(e, 4–5 queþer, qwhethir, 5 qwhedyr, queder.
[OE. hwæþ(e)re, advb. formation from hwæþer whether pron.]
Nevertheless, however, and yet, for all that.
| Beowulf 555 Hwæþre me ᵹyfeþe wearð, þæt ic aᵹlæcan orde ᵹeræhte, hildebille. c 1000 Sax. Leechd. II. 256 Ne sceal mon hwæþere þisne drincan sellan on foreweardne þone ece. a 1175 Cott. Hom. 225 He cweð þat him of-þuhte þat he efre mancinn ȝesceop þa wes hweðere an man richwis et-foran gode. 13.. Cursor M. 4622 (Gött.) ‘Do queþer,’ he said, ‘þar-of na strijf.’ 13.. S. Erkenwolde 153 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 269 Queþer mony porer in þis place is putte into graue. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 581 Queþer ȝit, for any quat a quyle latt him kepe. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. viii. xxviii. 4791 He said: ‘Na hast’; qwhedyr perfay His folk walde fayne haf beyn away. |
b. in comb. though-whether (the-whether), q.v.
| 12.. Moral Ode 131 (Egerton MS.) Þeh [v.r. þeih] hweðer we it iluuet wel. a 1300 Cursor M. 11009 Þair modres þo⁓queþer bath mild, Yoede at ans wit þair child. 1375 Barbour Bruce i. 332 The quhethir he glaid was and ioly. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. viii. xxxix. 6949 Þe qwheþir oft ryot walde þai ma To preik and poynde. |
¶ never þe queder: app. a confusion of nevertheless and the-whether.
| a 1400–50 Bk. Curtasye 715 in Babees Bk. 323 The ouer bassyn þay halde neuer þe queder, Quylle þo keruer powre water in-to þe nedur. |
c. app. as adversative conj. Although.
| a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 2090 Quethire days thre þurȝe-out thraly we foȝten,..And ȝit þe lawest at þe last vs limpid to bee. |
▪ III. whether
obs. f. weather, wether, whither.