Whether - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

wheth·er

Audio Help [hweth-er, weth-] Pronunciation Key

–conjunction

1.	(used to introduce the first of two or more alternatives, and sometimes repeated before the second or later alternative, usually with the correlative or): It matters little whether we go or stay. Whether we go or whether we stay, the result is the same.

2.	(used to introduce a single alternative, the other being implied or understood, or some clause or element not involving alternatives): See whether or not she has come. I doubt whether we can do any better.

3.	Archaic. (used to introduce a question presenting alternatives, usually with the correlative or).

–pronoun Archaic.

4.	which or whichever (of two)?

—Idiom

5.	whether or no, under whatever circumstances; regardless: He threatens to go whether or no.

[Origin: bef. 900; ME; OE hwether, hwæther, equiv. to hwe- (base of hwā who) + -ther comp. suffix; c. ON hvatharr, Goth hwathar

]

—Usage note See if.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Whether

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

wheth·er Audio Help (hwěth'ər, wěth'-) Pronunciation Key
conj.

Used in indirect questions to introduce one alternative: We should find out whether the museum is open. See Usage Notes at doubt, if.
Used to introduce alternative possibilities: Whether she wins or whether she loses, this is her last tournament.
Either: He passed the test, whether by skill or luck.

pron. Archaic
Which: "We came in full View of a great Island or Continent, (for we knew not whether)" (Jonathan Swift).

[Middle English, from Old English hwether; see k^wo- in Indo-European roots.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
whether

O.E. hwæðer, hweðer "which of two, whether," from P.Gmc. *khwatharaz (cf. O.S. hwedar, O.N. hvarr, Goth. huaþar, O.H.G. hwedar "which of the two," Ger. weder "neither"), from interrogative base *khwa- "who" (see who) + comparative suffix *-theraz (cf. Skt. katarah, Avestan katara-, Gk. poteros, L. uter "which of the two, either of two," Lith. katras "which of the two," O.C.S. koteru "which"). Its comparative form is either.

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
whether [ˈweðə] conjunction

if
Example: I don't know whether it's possible.

Arabic:	إن، إذا، فيما إذا
Chinese (Simplified):	是否
Chinese (Traditional):	是否
Czech:	zda
Danish:	om
Dutch:	of
Estonian:	kas
Finnish:	-ko, -kö
French:	si
German:	ob
Greek:	εάν
Hungarian:	vajon
Icelandic:	hvort
Indonesian:	apakah
Italian:	se

Japanese:	～かどうか
Korean:	…일지 어떨지
Latvian:	vai
Lithuanian:	ar
Norwegian:	om, hvorvidt
Polish:	czy
Portuguese (Brazil):	se
Portuguese (Portugal):	se
Romanian:	dacă
Russian:	ли
Slovak:	či
Slovenian:	če
Spanish:	si
Swedish:	om, huruvida
Turkish:	(eğer) …-se; acaba (…-mı)

See also: whether … or

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Whether

Ei"ther\ (?; 277), a. & pron. [OE. either, aither, AS. ?g?er, ?ghw[ae]?er (akin to OHG. ?ogiwedar, MHG. iegeweder); [=a] + ge + hw[ae]?er whether. See Each, and Whether, and cf. Or, conj.]

1. One of two; the one or the other; -- properly used of two things, but sometimes of a larger number, for any one.

Lepidus flatters both, Of both is flattered; but he neither loves, Nor either cares for him. --Shak.

Scarce a palm of ground could be gotten by either of the three. --Bacon.

There have been three talkers in Great British, either of whom would illustrate what I say about dogmatists. --Holmes.

2. Each of two; the one and the other; both; -- formerly, also, each of any number.

His flowing hair In curls on either cheek played. --Milton.

On either side . . . was there the tree of life. --Rev. xxii. 2.

The extreme right and left of either army never engaged. --Jowett (Thucyd).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Whether

Nei"ther\ (? or ?; 277), a. [OE. neiter, nother, nouther, AS. n[=a]w?er, n[=a]hw[ae]?er; n[=a] never, not + hw[ae]?er whether. The word has followed the form of either. See No, and Whether, and cf. Neuter, Nor.] Not either; not the one or the other.

Which of them shall I take? Both? one? or neither? Neither can be enjoyed, If both remain alive. --Shak.

He neither loves, Nor either cares for him. --Shak.

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