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Were vs What - What's the difference?

were | what |

In obsolete terms the difference between were and what

is that were is a fine for slaying a man; weregild while what is something; thing; stuff.

As nouns the difference between were and what

is that were is man (human male), as in {{term|werewolf||man-wolf|lang=en}} while what is something; thing; stuff.

As a verb were

is form of Second-person singular simple past tense indicative|be|lang=en.

As a pronoun what is

which thing, event, circumstance, etc.: used interrogatively in asking for the specification of an identity, quantity, quality, etc.

As an adverb what is

in some manner or degree; in part; partly; usually followed by with.

As an interjection what is

An expression of surprise or disbelief.

As a determiner what is

which; which kind of.

were

English

Etymology 1

(etyl) .

Verb

(head)
  • .
    • John, you were the only person to see him.
  • .
    • We were about to leave.
  • .
    • Mary and John, you were right.
  • .
    • They were a fine group.
    They were to be the best of friends from that day on.
  • .
    • I wish that it were Sunday.
    I wish that I were with you.
  • :* with "if" omitted, put first in an "if" clause:
  • :*: Were''' it simply that she wore a hat, I would not be upset at all.'' (= '''''If''' it '''were simply... )
  • :*: Were''' father a king, we would have war.'' (= '''''If''' father '''were a king,... )
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=November 3 , author=David Ornstein , title=Macc Tel-Aviv 1 - 2 Stoke , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Maccabi would have been out of contention were it not for Stoke's profligacy, but their fortune eventually ran out as the visitors opened the scoring.}}
  • (Northern England) was.
    • Synonyms
    * (second-person singular past indicative, archaic'') wast (''used with "thou" ) * (second-person singular imperfect subjunctive, archaic'') wert (''used with "thou" )

    See also

    * am * are * is * art * be * being * been * beest * was * wast * wert

    Etymology 2

    (etyl) wer, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (wikipedia were) (en noun)
  • (archaic) man (human male), as in .
  • (obsolete) A fine for slaying a man; weregild.
  • * Bosworth
    • Every man was valued at a certain sum, which was called his were .
  • (fandom) The collective name for any kind of person that changes into another form under certain conditions, including the werewolf.
    • Related terms
    * were- * weregild * werewolf * world

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * 100 English basic words English auxiliary verb forms English terms with homophones English irregular simple past forms English verb simple past forms English verb forms using redundant wikisyntax ----

    what

    English

    (wikipedia what)

    Pronoun

    (English Pronouns)
  • (interrogative) Which thing, event, circumstance, etc.: used interrogatively in asking for the specification of an identity, quantity, quality, etc.
  • (relative, nonstandard) That; which.
  • * 1902 , , (The Admirable Crichton) :
    • That’s her; that’s the thing what has stole his heart from me.
  • (relative) That which; those that; the thing that.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-21, author=(Oliver Burkeman)
    • , volume=189, issue=2, page=48, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= The tao of tech , passage=The dirty secret of the internet is that all this distraction and interruption is immensely profitable. Web companies like to boast […, or offering services that let you "stay up to date with what your friends are doing",

    Adverb

    (-)
  • In some manner or degree; in part; partly; usually followed by with .
  • Such.
  • (label) Why?
  • * (rfdate) (Chaucer)
    • What should I tell the answer of the knight?
  • * (rfdate) (John Milton)
    • But what do I stand reckoning upon advantages and gains lost by the misrule and turbulency of the prelates?
  • Used to introduce each of two coordinate phrases or concepts; both…and.
  • * :
    • And as for on C good knyghtes I haue my self / but I fawte / l / for so many haue ben slayne in my dayes / and so Ladegreans delyuerd his doughter Gweneuer vnto Merlyn / and the table round with the C knyghtes / and so they rode fresshly with grete royalte / what' by water and ' what by land / tyl that they came nyghe vnto london

    Synonyms

    * such

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • * 1605 Wm. Shakespeare, King Lear
    • What , have his daughters brought him to this pass?
    What ! That’s amazing.
  • (British, colloquial, dated) Is that not true?
    • It’s a nice day, what'''?'' (sometimes repeated, e.g.: '''''What'''-'''what ? )

    Determiner

    (en determiner)
  • Which; which kind of.
    • What shirt are you going to wear?
    What time is it?
    What kind of car is that?
  • How much; how great (used in an exclamation).
    • What talent he has!
    What a talent!

    Derived terms

    * wat * what ho * whatness * what's what

    Noun

    (-)
  • (obsolete) something; thing; stuff
  • * Spenser
    • They prayd him sit, and gave him for to feed / Such homely what as serves the simple clowne, / That doth despise the dainties of the towne

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * 100 English basic words English interrogative pronouns English terms with homophones 1000 English basic words