- When
- When When, adv. [OE. when, whan, whenne, whanne, AS.
hw[ae]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}.]
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1. At what time; -- used interrogatively.
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When shall these things be? --Matt. xxiv. 3. [1913 Webster]
Note: See the Note under {What}, pron., 1. [1913 Webster]
2. At what time; at, during, or after the time that; at or just after, the moment that; -- used relatively. [1913 Webster]
Kings may Take their advantage when and how they list. --Daniel. [1913 Webster]
Book lore ne'er served, when trial came, Nor gifts, when faith was dead. --J. H. Newman. [1913 Webster]
3. 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. [1913 Webster]
4. Which time; then; -- used elliptically as a noun. [1913 Webster]
I was adopted heir by his consent; Since when, his oath is broke. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Note: When was formerly used as an exclamation of surprise or impatience, like what! [1913 Webster]
Come hither; mend my ruff: Here, when! thou art such a tedious lady! --J. Webster. [1913 Webster]
{When as}, {When that}, at the time that; when. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
When as sacred light began to dawn. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
When that mine eye is famished for a look. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
