Etymology : Middle English, from Old English hwanne, hwenne; akin to Old High German hwanne when, Old English hwA who; more at WHO
Pronunciation : hwen, wen, (h)w&n
Function : adverb
Date : before 12th century
1. time, period of time. adat what time; at the hour which; as; at the time of; whereas. proin what time; at the time of. conj. at the hour of; as; whereas. when\when\ , adv. [oe. when, whan, whenne, whanne, as. hw?nne, hwanne, hwonne; akin to os. hwan, od. wan, ohg. wanne, g. wann when, wenn if, when, goth. hwan when, and to e. who. . see:
who.].
2. at what time; -- used interrogatively. when shall these things be? xxiv. 3.note: see:
the note under what, pron.,.
3. 2. at what time; at, during, or after the time that; at or just after, the moment that; -- used relatively. kings may take their advantage when and how they list. book lore ne'er served, when trial came, nor gifts, when faith was dead. h. newman.
4. while; whereas; although; -- used in the manner of a conjunction to introduce a dependent adverbial sentence or clause, having a causal, conditional, or adversative relation to the principal proposition; as, he chose to turn highwayman when he might have continued an honest man; he removed the tree when it was the best in the grounds.
5. which time; then; -- used elliptically as a noun. i was adopted heir by his consent; since when, his oath is broke.note: when was formerly used as an exclamation of surprise or impatience, like what! come hither; mend my ruff: here, when! thou art such a tedious lady! webster.when as,when that, at the time that; when. [obs.] when as sacred light began to dawn. when that mine eye is famished for a look.when as soon as; "once we are home, we can rest" [syn: once].
6. At what time; used interrogatively.
7. At what time; at, during, or after the time that; at or just after, the moment that; used relatively.
8. While; whereas; although; used in the manner of a conjunction to introduce a dependent adverbial sentence or clause, having a causal, conditional, or adversative relation to the principal proposition; as, he chose to turn highwayman when he might have continued an honest man; he removed the tree when it was the best in the grounds.
9. Which time; then; used elliptically as a noun.
10. 1. You use when to ask questions about the time at which things happen. When are you going home? When is the press conference? When were you in this house last? `I'll be there this afternoon.' --- `When?'.
11. If something happens when something else is happening, the two things are happening at the same time. When eating a whole cooked fish, you should never turn it over to get at the flesh on the other side Mustard is grown in the field when weeds are there, rather than when the growing crops are there.
12. You use when to introduce a clause in which you mention something which happens at some point during an activity, event, or situation. When I met the Gills, I had been gardening for nearly ten years.
13. You use when to introduce a clause where you mention the circumstances under which the event in the main clause happened or will happen. When he brought Imelda her drink she gave him a genuine, sweet smile of thanks I'll start to think about it when I have to write my report.
14. You use when after certain words, especially verbs and adjectives, to introduce a clause where you mention the time at which something happens. I asked him when he'd be back to pick me up I don't know when the decision was made.
15. You use when to introduce a clause which specifies or refers to the time at which something happens. He could remember a time when he had worked like that himself In 1973, when he lived in Rome, his sixteen-year-old son was kidnapped.
16. You use when to introduce the reason for an opinion, comment, or question. How can I love myself when I look like this?.
17. You use when in order to introduce a fact or comment which makes the other part of the sentence rather surprising or unlikely. Our mothers sat us down to read and paint, when all we really wanted to do was to make a mess = although.