Etymology : Middle English, from Old English hwA; akin to Old High German hwer, interrogative pronoun, who, Latin quis, Greek tis, Latin qui, relative pronoun, who
Pronunciation : hü, ü
Function : pronoun
Date : before 12th century
1. agency of the United Nations which promotes improving health conditions for people around the world. prowhich person?; person which; that; every person which. who\who\ , pron. [possess. whose ; object. whom .] [oe. who, wha, as. hwā, interrogative pron., neut. hw?t; akin to ofries. hwa, neut. hwet, os. hwē, neut. hwat, d. wie, neut. wat, g. wer, neut. was, ohg. wer, hwer, neut. waz, hwaz, icel. hvat, neut., dan. hvo, neut. hvad, sw. ho, hvem, neut. hvad, goth. hwas, fem. hwō, neut. hwa, lith. kas, ir. & gael. co, w. pwy, l. quod, neuter of qui, gr. po`teros whether, skr. kas. ?182. cf. how, quantity, quorum, quote, ubiquity, what, when, where, whether, which, whither, whom, why.].
2. originally, an interrogative pronoun, later, a relative pronoun also; -- used always substantively, and either as singular or plural. see:
the note under what, pron.,.
3. as interrogative pronouns, who and whom ask the question: what or which person or persons? who and whom, as relative pronouns (in the sense of that), are properly used of persons (corresponding to which, as applied to things), but are sometimes, less properly and now rarely, used of animals, plants, etc. who and whom, as compound relatives, are also used especially of persons, meaning the person that; the persons that; the one that; whosoever. "let who will be president." [he] should not tell whose children they were. there thou tell'st of kings, and who aspire; who fall, who rise, who triumph, who do moan. adders who with cloven tongues do hiss into madness. whom i could pity thus forlorn. how hard is our fate, who serve in the state. who cheapens life, abates the fear of death. the brace of large greyhounds, who were the companions of his sports. w. scott.
4. one; any; one. [obs., except in the archaic phrase, as who should say.] as who should say, it were a very dangerous matter if a man in any point should be found wiser than his forefathers were.who a united nations agency to coordinate international health activities and to help governments improve health services [syn: world health organization, who].
5. Originally, an interrogative pronoun, later, a relative pronoun also; used always substantively, and either as singular or plural.
6. See the Note under What, pron., 1.
7. As interrogative pronouns, who and whom ask the question: What or which person or persons? Who and whom, as relative pronouns , are properly used of persons , but are sometimes, less properly and now rarely, used of animals, plants, etc.
8. Who and whom, as compound relatives, are also used especially of persons, meaning the person that; the persons that; the one that; whosoever.
9. One; any; one.
10. who Who is used as the subject or object of a verb. See entries at whom and whose.
11. You use who in questions when you ask about the name or identity of a person or group of people. Who's there? Who is the least popular man around here? Who do you work for? Who do you suppose will replace her on the show? `You reminded me of somebody.' --- `Who?'.
12. You use who after certain words, especially verbs and adjectives, to introduce a clause where you talk about the identity of a person or a group of people. Police have not been able to find out who was responsible for the forgeries I went over to start up a conversation, asking her who she knew at the party You know who these people are.
13. You use who at the beginning of a relative clause when specifying the person or group of people you are talking about or when giving more information about them. There are those who eat out for a special occasion, or treat themselves The woman, who needs constant attention, is cared for by relatives. World Health Organization. the abbreviation of the World Health Organization.