Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter W

Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter W - Page 28

Whitsunday (n.) (Scots Law) See the Note under Term, n., 12.

Whitsunday (n.) Seventh Sunday after Easter; commemorates the emanation of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles; a quarter day in Scotland [syn: Pentecost, Whitsunday].

Whitsuntide (n.) The week commencing with Whitsunday, esp. the first three days -- Whitsunday, Whitsun Monday, and Whitsun Tuesday; the time of Pentecost. -- R. of Gloucester.

Whitsuntide (n.) Christian holiday; the week beginning on Whitsunday (especially the first 3 days) [syn: Whitsun, Whitsuntide, Whitweek].

Whitten tree () (Bot.) Either of two shrubs ({Viburnum Lantana, and V. Opulus), so called on account of their whitish branches.

Whitterick (n.) The curlew. [Prov. Eng.]

Whittle (n.) A grayish, coarse double blanket worn by countrywomen, in the west of England, over the shoulders, like a cloak or shawl. -- C. Kingsley.

Whittle (n.) Same as Whittle shawl, below.

Whittle shawl, A kind of fine woolen shawl, originally and especially a white one.

Whittle (n.) A knife; esp., a pocket, sheath, or clasp knife. "A butcher's whittle." -- Dryden. "Rude whittles." -- Macaulay.

He wore a Sheffield whittle in his hose. -- Betterton.

Whittled (imp. & p. p.) of Whittle

Whittling (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Whittle

Whittle (v. t.) 削，切；削成；削減，削弱 [（+away/ down）] To pare or cut off the surface of with a small knife; to cut or shape, as a piece of wood held in the hand, with a clasp knife or pocketknife.

Whittle (v. t.) To edge; to sharpen; to render eager or excited; esp., to excite with liquor; to inebriate. [Obs.]

"In vino veritas." When men are well whittled, their tongues run at random. -- Withals.

Whittle (v. i.) 削；削木頭；削成形；（由於煩惱、憂慮等）弄壞身體 To cut or shape a piece of wood with am small knife; to cut up a piece of wood with a knife.

Dexterity with a pocketknife is a part of a Nantucket education; but I am inclined to think the propensity is national. Americans must and will whittle. -- Willis.

Whittle (n.) English aeronautical engineer who invented the jet aircraft engine (1907-1996) [syn: Whittle, Frank Whittle, Sir Frank Whittle].

Whittle (v.) Cut small bits or pare shavings from; "whittle a piece of wood" [syn: whittle, pare].

Whittlings (n. pl.) Chips made by one who whittles; shavings cut from a stick with a knife.

Whittret (n.) (Zool.) A weasel. [Scot.]

Whittuesday (n.) (Eccl.) The day following Whitmonday; -- called also Whitsun Tuesday.

Whitwall (n.) (Zool.) Same as Whetile.

Whitworth ball () (Gun.) A prejectile used in the Whitworth gun.

Whitworth gun () (Gun.) A form of rifled cannon and small arms invented by Sir Joseph Whitworth, of Manchester, England.

Note: In Mr. Whitworth's system, the bore of the gun has a polygonal section, and the twist is rapid. The ball, which is pointed in front, is made to fit the bore accurately, and is very much elongated, its length being about three and one half times as great as its diameter. -- H. L. Scott.

Whity-brown (a.) Of a color between white and brown. -- Pegge.

Whizzed (imp. & p. p.) of Whiz

Whizzing (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Whiz

Whiz (v. i.) To make a humming or hissing sound, like an arrow or ball flying through the air; to fly or move swiftly with a sharp hissing or whistling sound. [Written also whizz.]

It flew, and whizzing, cut the liquid way. -- Dryden.

Whiz (n.) A hissing and humming sound.

Like the whiz of my crossbow. -- Coleridge.

Whiz (n.) Someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field [syn: ace, adept, champion, sensation, maven, mavin, virtuoso, genius, hotshot, star, superstar, whiz, whizz, wizard, wiz].

Whiz (n.) A buzzing or hissing sound as of something traveling rapidly through the air; "he heard the whiz of bullets near his head".

Whiz (v.) Make a soft swishing sound; "the motor whirred"; "the car engine purred" [syn: whizz, whiz, whirr, whir, birr, purr].

Whizzingly (adv.) With a whizzing sound.

Who (pron.) Originally, an interrogative pronoun, later, a relative pronoun also; -- used always substantively, and either as singular or plural. See the Note under What, pron., 1. 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." -- Macaulay.

[He] should not tell whose children they were. -- Chaucer.

There thou tell'st of kings, and who aspire; Who fall, who rise, who triumph, who do moan. -- Daniel.

Adders who with cloven tongues Do hiss into madness. -- Shak.

Whom I could pity thus forlorn. -- Milton.

How hard is our fate, who serve in the state. -- Addison.

Who cheapens life, abates the fear of death. -- Young.

The brace of large greyhounds, who were the companions of his sports. -- Sir W. Scott.

Who (pron.) 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. -- Robynson (More's Utopia).

WHO (n.) A United Nations agency to coordinate international health activities and to help governments improve health services [syn: World Health Organization, WHO].

Compare: Ho

Ho, Hoa, (interj.) Halloo! attend! -- a call to excite attention, or to give notice of approach. "What noise there, ho?" -- Shak. "Ho! who's within?" -- Shak.

Ho, Hoa, (interj.) Stop! stand still! hold! -- a word now used by teamsters, but formerly to order the cessation of anything. [Written also whoa, and, formerly, hoo.]

The duke . . . pulled out his sword and cried "Hoo!" -- Chaucer.

An herald on a scaffold made an hoo. -- Chaucer.

Whoa (interj.) Stop; stand; hold. See Ho, 2.

Whobub (n.) Hubbub. [Obs.] -- Beau. & Fl.

Whoever (pron.) Whatever person; any person who; be or she who; any one who; as, he shall be punished, whoever he may be. "Whoever envies or repines." -- Milton. "Whoever the king favors." -- Shak.

Whole (a.) Containing the total amount, number, etc.; comprising all the parts; free from deficiency; all; total; entire; as, the whole earth; the whole solar system; the whole army; the whole nation. "On their whole host I flew unarmed." -- Milton.

The whole race of mankind. -- Shak.

Whole (a.) Complete; entire; not defective or imperfect; not broken or fractured; unimpaired; uninjured; integral; as, a whole orange; the egg is whole; the vessel is whole.

Whole (a.) Possessing, or being in a state of, heath and soundness; healthy; sound; well.

[She] findeth there her friends hole and sound. -- Chaucer.

They that be whole need not a physician. -- Matt. ix. 12.

When Sir Lancelot's deadly hurt was whole. -- Tennyson.

Whole blood. (Law of Descent) See under Blood, n., 2.

Whole note (Mus.), The note which represents a note of longest duration in common use; a semibreve.

Whole number (Math.), A number which is not a fraction or mixed number; an integer.

Whole snipe (Zool.), The common snipe, as distinguished from the smaller jacksnipe. [Prov. Eng.]

Syn: All; total; complete; entire; integral; undivided; uninjured; unimpaired; unbroken; healthy.

Usage: Whole, Total, Entire, Complete. When we use the word whole, we refer to a thing as made up of parts, none of which are wanting; as, a whole week; a whole year; the whole creation. When we use the word total, we have reference to all as taken together, and forming a single totality; as, the total amount; the total income. When we speak of a thing as entire, we have no reference to parts at all, but regard the thing as an integer, i. e., continuous or unbroken; as, an entire year; entire prosperity. When we speak of a thing as complete, there is reference to some progress which results in a filling out to some end or object, or a perfected state with no deficiency; as, complete success; a complete victory.

All the whole army stood agazed on him. -- Shak.

One entire and perfect chrysolite. -- Shak.

Lest total darkness should by night regain Her old possession, and extinguish life. -- Milton.

So absolute she seems, And in herself complete. -- Milton.

Whole (n.) The entire thing; the entire assemblage of parts; totality; all of a thing, without defect or exception; a thing complete in itself.

This not the whole of life to live, Nor all of death to die. -- J. Montgomery.

Whole (n.) A regular combination of parts; a system.

Parts answering parts shall slide into a whole. -- Pope.

Committee of the whole. See under Committee.

Upon the whole, Considering all things; taking everything into account; in view of all the circumstances or conditions.

Syn: Totality; total; amount; aggregate; gross.

Whole (adv.) To a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (`whole' is often used informally for `wholly'); "he was wholly convinced"; "entirely satisfied with the meal"; "it was completely different from what we expected"; "was completely at fault"; "a totally new situation"; "the directions were all wrong"; "it was not altogether her fault"; "an altogether new approach"; "a whole new idea" [syn: wholly, entirely, completely, totally, all, altogether, whole] [ant: part, partially, partly].

Whole (a.) Including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete; "gave his whole attention"; "a whole wardrobe for the tropics"; "the whole hog"; "a whole week"; "the baby cried the whole trip home"; "a whole loaf of bread" [ant: fractional].

Whole (a.) (Of siblings) Having the same parents; "whole brothers and sisters" [ant: half].

Whole (a.) Not injured [syn: unharmed, unhurt, unscathed, whole]

Whole (a.) Exhibiting or restored to vigorous good health; "hale and hearty"; "whole in mind and body"; "a whole person again" [syn: hale, whole].

Whole (a.) Acting together as a single undiversified whole; "a solid voting bloc" [syn: solid, unanimous, whole].

Whole (n.) All of something including all its component elements or parts; "Europe considered as a whole"; "the whole of American literature".

Whole (n.) An assemblage of parts that is regarded as a single entity; "how big is that part compared to the whole?"; "the team is a unit" [syn: whole, unit].

Whole-hoofed (a.) Having an undivided hoof, as the horse.

Whole-length (a.) Representing the whole figure; -- said of a picture or statue.

Whole-length (n.) A portrait or statue representing the whole figure.

Wholeness (n.) 全部；整體；完全 The quality or state of being whole, entire, or sound; entireness; totality; completeness.

Wholeness (n.) An undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting; "the integrity of the nervous system is required for normal development"; "he took measures to insure the territorial unity of Croatia" [syn: integrity, unity, wholeness].

Wholeness (n.) A state of robust good health [syn: wholeness, haleness].

Wholesale (n.) 批發，躉售 [U] Sale of goods by the piece or large quantity, as distinguished from retail.

By wholesale, In the mass; in large quantities; without distinction or discrimination.

Some, from vanity or envy, despise a valuable book, and throw contempt upon it by wholesale. -- I. Watts.

Wholesale (a.) 批發的；成批售出的；大批的；大規模的；不加區別的；全部的 Pertaining to, or engaged in, trade by the piece or large quantity; selling to retailers or jobbers rather than to consumers; as, a wholesale merchant; the wholesale price.

Wholesale (a.) Extensive and indiscriminate; as, wholesale slaughter.

Wholesale (adv.) At a wholesale price; "I can sell it to you wholesale" [ant: retail].

Wholesale (adv.) On a large scale without careful discrimination; "I buy food wholesale" [syn: wholesale, in large quantities].

Wholesale (a.) Ignoring distinctions; "sweeping generalizations"; "wholesale destruction" [syn: sweeping, wholesale].

Wholesale (n.) The selling of goods to merchants; usually in large quantities for resale to consumers [ant: retail]

Wholesale (v.) Sell in large quantities [ant: retail].

Wholesome (a.) Tending to promote health; favoring health; salubrious; salutary.

Wholesome thirst and appetite. -- Milton.

From which the industrious poor derive an agreeable and wholesome variety of food. -- A Smith.

Wholesome (a.) Contributing to the health of the mind; favorable to morals, religion, or prosperity; conducive to good; salutary; sound; as, wholesome advice; wholesome doctrines; wholesome truths; wholesome laws.

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life. -- Prov. xv. 4.

I can not . . . make you a wholesome answer; my wit's diseased. -- Shak.

A wholesome suspicion began to be entertained. -- Sir W. Scott.

Wholesome (a.) Sound; healthy. [Obs.] -- Shak. -- Whole"some*ly, adv. -- Whole"some*ness, n.

Wholesome (a.) Conducive to or characteristic of physical or moral well-being; "wholesome attitude"; "wholesome appearance"; "wholesome food" [ant: unwholesome].

Wholesome (a.) Sound or exhibiting soundness in body or mind; "exercise develops wholesome appetites"; "a grin on his ugly wholesome face".

Whole-souled (a.) Thoroughly imbued with a right spirit; noble-minded; devoted.

Whole-souled (a.) With unconditional and enthusiastic devotion; "heart-whole friendship"; "gave wholehearted support to her candidacy"; "wholehearted commitment"; "demonstrated his whole-souled allegiance" [syn: heart-whole, wholehearted, whole-souled].

Wholly (adv.) In a whole or complete manner; entirely; completely; perfectly.

Nor wholly overcome, nor wholly yield. -- Dryden.

Wholly (adv.) To the exclusion of other things; totally; fully.

They employed themselves wholly in domestic life. -- Addison.

Wholly (adv.) To a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (`whole' is often used informally for `wholly'); "he was wholly convinced"; "entirely satisfied with the meal"; "it was completely different from what we expected"; "was completely at fault"; "a totally new situation"; "the directions were all wrong"; "it was not altogether her fault"; "an altogether new approach"; "a whole new idea" [syn: wholly, entirely, completely, totally, all, altogether, whole] [ant: part, partially, partly].

Whom (pron.) The objective case of who. See Who.

Whomsoever (pron.) The objective of whosoever. See Whosoever.

Whoobub (n.) Hubbub.

Whoop (n.) The hoopoe.

Whooped (imp. & p. p.) of Whoop

Whooping (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Whoop

Whoop (v. i.) 叫喊，喘息 To utter a whoop, or loud cry, as eagerness, enthusiasm, or enjoyment; to cry out; to shout; to halloo; to utter a war whoop; to hoot, as an owl.

Whoop (v. i.) To cough or breathe with a sonorous inspiration, as in whooping cough.

Whoop (v. t.) 高聲說，喚起 To insult with shouts; to chase with derision.

Whoop (n.) 大叫，吶喊，喘息聲，小塊，一點點 A shout of pursuit or of war; a very of eagerness, enthusiasm, enjoyment, vengeance, terror, or the like; an halloo; a hoot, or cry, as of an owl.

Whoop (n.) A loud, shrill, prolonged sound or sonorous inspiration, as in whooping cough.

Whoop (v.) [ I ] （尤指為表示高興或贊同而）吶喊，大叫 To give a loud, excited shout, especially to show your enjoyment of or agreement with something.

// The audience was whooping and clapping.