when

when
I. adverb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hwanne, hwenne; akin to Old High German hwanne when, Old English hwā who — more at who Date: before 12th century 1. at what time <
when will you return
>
2. a. at or during which time b. and then 3. at a former and usually less prosperous time <
brag fondly of having known him when — Vance Packard
>
II. conjunction Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hwanne, hwenne, from hwanne, hwenne, adverb Date: before 12th century 1. a. at or during the time that ; while <
went fishing when he was a boy
>
b. just at the moment that <
stop writing when the bell rings
>
c. at any or every time that <
when he listens to music, he falls asleep
>
2. in the event that ; if <
a contestant is disqualified when he disobeys the rules
>
3. a. considering that <
why use water at all when you can drown in it — Stuart Chase
>
b. in spite of the fact that ; although <
quit politics when I might have had a great career in it
>
4. the time or occasion at or in which <
tomorrow is when we must decide
>
<
humor is when you laugh — Earl Rovit
>
III. pronoun Date: 14th century what or which time <
life-long homes for those…who have lived here since when — Kim Waller
>
IV. noun Date: 1616 the time in which something is done or comes about <
troubled his head very little about the hows and whens of life — Laurence Sterne
>

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • when — [ wen, hwen ] function word *** When can be used in the following ways: as a conjunction (connecting two clauses): When he saw me, he waved. as a question adverb (introducing a direct or indirect question): When should we meet? Do you know when… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • when — W1S1 [wen] adv, conj, pron [: Old English; Origin: hwanne, hwenne] 1.) at what time ▪ When are we leaving? ▪ When did you first meet Dr Darnall? ▪ When will the work be finished? ▪ I don t know when I ll see her again. when to do sth ▪ I ll tell… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 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}.] [1913 Webster] 1. At what time; used interrogatively …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • When as — 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}.] [1913 Webster] 1. At what time; used… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • when — [hwen, wen] adv. [ME whenne < OE hwænne, akin to Ger wann, when, wenn, if, akin to hwa, who: see WHAT] 1. a) at what time? [when did they leave? he asked when he should go] b) on what occasion or under what circumstances? [when do you double… …   English World dictionary

  • When — may refer to:* When?, one of the Five Ws, questions used in journalism * WHEN, a sports radio station in Syracuse once affiliated with WTVH * WHEN, the former call letters of TV station WTVH in Syracuse, New York, U.S.In music: * When (1958 song) …   Wikipedia

  • When — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda «When» Sencillo de Shania Twain del álbum Come on Over Publicación 1 de junio de 1998 (Reino Unido) Formato Radio Single Maxi Single …   Wikipedia Español

  • when — when·as; when·ness; when·som·ev·er; when; when·ev·er; when·so·ev·er; …   English syllables

  • When I Go — may refer to: * When I Go , a song by Screaming Jets from their 1997 album World Gone Crazy * When I Go (album), a 1998 album by Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer …   Wikipedia

  • when — O.E. hwænne, hwenne, hwonne, from Gmc. pronomial stem *khwa (Cf. O.S. hwan, O.Fris. hwenne, M.Du. wan, O.H.G. hwanne, Ger. wann when ), from PIE interrogative base *qwo (see WHO (Cf. who)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • when|as — «hwehn AZ, hwuhn », conjunction. Archaic. when; while; whereas …   Useful english dictionary

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