which

[[t](h)wɪtʃ, wɪtʃ[/t]]

pron.

1) fun what one?:

Which of these do you want? Which do you want?[/ex]

2) fun whichever:

Choose which appeals to you[/ex]

3) fun (used relatively in restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses to represent a specified antecedent):

This book, which I read last night, was exciting. The socialism which Owen preached was unpalatable to many. The lawyer represented five families, of which ours was the largest[/ex]

4) fun (used relatively in restrictive clauses having that as the antecedent):

Damaged goods constituted part of that which was sold at the auction[/ex]

5) fun (used after a preposition to represent a specified antecedent):

the house in which I lived[/ex]

6) fun (used relatively to represent a specified or implied antecedent) the one that; a particular one that:

You may choose which you like[/ex]

7) fun (used in parenthetic clauses) the thing or fact that:

He hung around for hours and, which was worse, kept me from doing my work[/ex]

8) what one of (a certain number or group mentioned or implied)?:

Which book do you want?[/ex]

9) whichever; any that:

Go which way you please, you'll end up here[/ex]

10) being previously mentioned:

It rained all day, during which time we played cards[/ex]

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Etymology: bef. 900; ME; OE hwilc, hwelc=hwe- (akin to hwā who) +-līc body, shape, kind; c. OS (h)wilik, OHG hwelīk, ON hvīlīkr, Go hwileiks lit., of what form usage: The relative pronoun which refers to inanimate things and to animals: The house, which we had seen only from a distance, impressed us even more as we approached. The horses which pulled the coach were bay geldings. Formerly, which referred to persons, but this use, while still heard (the friend which helped me move), is now nonstandard. The “rule” taught by some usage guides, that which should be used only with nonrestrictive clauses, has not taken hold generally. In edited prose a majority of the clauses in which which is the relative pronoun are restrictive: Facts which we had ignored turned out to be critical. See also that