1. (pron., a., & adv.) As an interrogative pronoun, used in asking questions regarding either persons or things; as, what is this? what did you say? what poem is this? what child is lost?

2. (pron., a., & adv.) As an exclamatory word: -- (a) Used absolutely or independently; -- often with a question following.

3. (pron., a., & adv.) Used adjectively, meaning how remarkable, or how great; as, what folly! what eloquence! what courage!

4. (pron., a., & adv.) Sometimes prefixed to adjectives in an adverbial sense, as nearly equivalent to how; as, what happy boys!

5. (pron., a., & adv.) As a relative pronoun

6. (pron., a., & adv.) Used substantively with the antecedent suppressed, equivalent to that which, or those [persons] who, or those [things] which; -- called a compound relative.

7. (pron., a., & adv.) Used adjectively, equivalent to the . . . which; the sort or kind of . . . which; rarely, the . . . on, or at, which.

8. (pron., a., & adv.) Used adverbially in a sense corresponding to the adjectival use; as, he picked what good fruit he saw.

9. (pron., a., & adv.) Whatever; whatsoever; what thing soever; -- used indefinitely.

10. (pron., a., & adv.) Used adverbially, in part; partly; somewhat; -- with a following preposition, especially, with, and commonly with repetition.

11. (n.) Something; thing; stuff.

12. (interrog. adv.) Why? For what purpose? On what account?

God forbid anything soever which au contraire by no means far from it in no case in no respect in no wise never nohow not at all noway noways on no account on no condition quite the contrary to the contrary under no circumstances what whatever whatsoever whichever