where

See also where-, and were

English

Etymology

From Middle English wher, quher, from Old English hwǣr (“where”, literally “at what place”), from Proto-Germanic *hwar (“where”), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷo- (interrogative pronoun). Cognate with Scots quhare (“where”), West Frisian wêr (“where”), Dutch waar (“where”), German wo (“where”), Danish hvor (“where”), Icelandic hvar (“where”); related to Old English hwā (“who”). More at who.

Pronunciation

Conjunction

where

  1. While on the contrary; although; whereas.
    Where Susy has trouble coloring inside the lines, Johnny has already mastered shading.
    • Shakespeare
      And flight and die is death destroying death; / Where fearing dying pays death servile breath.
    • July 18 2012, Scott Tobias, AV Club The Dark Knight Rises[1]
      Where the Joker preys on our fears of random, irrational acts of terror, Bane has an all-consuming, dictatorial agenda that’s more stable and permanent, a New World Order that’s been planned out with the precision of a military coup.
  2. At or in which place or situation.
    He is looking for a house where he can have a complete office.
    I've forgotten where I was in this book, but it was probably around chapter four.
  3. To which place or situation.
    The snowbirds travel where it is warm.
  4. Wherever.
    Their job is to go where they are called.
  5. (law) In a position, case, etc., in which.
    Where no provision under this Act is applicable, the case shall be decided in accordance with the customary pratices.

Translations

while on the contrary, although, whereas
at or in which place
to which place or situation
wherever
legal: in the situation in which

Adverb

where (not comparable)

  1. (used interrogatively, in either a direct or indirect question) At what place; to what place; what place.
    Where are you?
    Where are you going?
    Where did you come from?
  2. In what situation.
    Where would we be without our parents?

Translations

at what place; to what place; from what place
in what situation

Pronoun

where

  1. The place in which.
    He lives within five miles of where he was born.

Translations

the place in which

Noun

where (uncountable)

  1. The place in which something happens.
    A good article will cover the who, the what, the when, the where, the why and the how.
    Finding the nymph asleep in secret where. — Spenser.

Translations

the place in which something happens

Derived terms

Terms derived from where

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Last modified on 19 May 2013, at 15:51