| 1. | (the possessive case of who used as an adjective): Whose umbrella did I take? Whose is this one? |
| 2. | (the possessive case of which used as an adjective): a word whose meaning escapes me; an animal whose fur changes color. |
| 3. | the one or ones belonging to what person or persons: Whose painting won the third prize? |
| 1. | what person or persons?: Who did it? |
| 2. | (of a person) of what character, origin, position, importance, etc.: Who does she think she is? |
| 3. | the person that or any person that (used relatively to represent a specified or implied antecedent): It was who you thought. |
| 4. | (used relatively in restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses to represent a specified antecedent, the antecedent being a person or sometimes an animal or personified thing): Any kid who wants to can learn to swim. |
| 5. | Archaic. the person or persons who. |
| 6. | as who should say, Archaic. in a manner of speaking; so to say. |

whose (hōōz) adj. [Middle English whos, from Old English hwæs; see kwo- in Indo-European roots.] Usage Note: It has sometimes been claimed that whose is properly used only as the possessive form of who and thus should be restricted to animate antecedents, as in a man whose power has greatly eroded. But there is extensive literary precedent for the use of whose with inanimate antecedents, as in The play, whose style is rigidly formal, is typical of the period. In an earlier survey this example was acceptable to a large majority of the Usage Panel. Those who avoid this usage employ of which: The play, the style of which is rigidly formal, is typical of the period. But as this example demonstrates, substituting of which may produce a stilted sentence. See Usage Notes at else, which, who. |