which

Meanings

1. And.

1. What, of those mentioned or implied.
2. The/Any ... that; whichever.
3. Designates the one(s) previously mentioned.

1. What one or ones (of those mentioned or implied).
2. The/Any ones that; whichever.
3. In a non-restrictive relative clause, referring to something previously mentioned.
4. Referring to a preceding noun.
5. Used of people (now generally who, whom, that; which remains possible with words also referred to by it such as baby, child).
6. Referring to a preceding statement.
7. In a restrictive relative clause, referring to a noun previously mentioned.
8. Used of people.

Etymology

From Middle English which, hwic, wilche, hwilch, whilk, hwilc, from Old English hwelċ (“which”), from Proto-Germanic *hwilīkaz (“what kind”, literally “like what”), derived from *hwaz. Cognates include Scots whilk (“which”), West Frisian hokker (“which”), Dutch welk (“which”), Low German welk (“which”), German welcher (“which”), Danish hvilken (“which”), Swedish vilken (“which”), Norwegian hvilken (“which”), Icelandic hvílíkur (“which”).