hwæt
Etymology 1
Etymology & Origins
From Proto-Germanic *hwat. Cognates include Old Frisian hwet, Old Saxon hwat, Old Dutch wat, Old High German waz, Old Norse hvat. The Indo-European root also led to Latin quod, Lithuanian kàd, and Irish cad.
Adverb
Definitions
- 1.
indeed, how
Hwæt wē Gārdena in gēardagum þēodcyninga þrym gefrunon;
Indeed we know about the might of the great kings of the Spear Danes in the days of yore;
Hwæt þū hæfst geweaxen!
How you've grown!
Pronoun
Definitions
- 1.
what
The Dialogues of Solomon and Saturn Hwæt sind þā þrēo þing þe nān mann būtan libban ne mæġ?
What are the three things no one can live without?
c. 995, Ælfric, Extracts on Grammar in English Dǣdlīcu word ġeswitoliaþ hwæt menn dōþ.
Active verbs express what people do.
c. 992, Ælfric, “Midlent Sunday” Mid hwon magon wē byċġan hlāf þissum folce?
What can we use to buy bread for these people?
c. 996, Ælfric, Lives of Saints Hwæs ābītst þū?
What are you waiting for?
The Legend of St. Andrew Ealle menn flēoþ of þǣre ċeastre. Tō hwon willaþ ġē þæder faran?
Everyone’s fleeing that city. What do you want to go there for?
- 2.
why
late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Boethius' The Consolation of Philosophy Hwæt seofast þū wiþ mē?
Why are you groaning at me?
c. 990, Wessex Gospels, John 4:27
His disciples were amazed that he was talking to a woman, though none of them said “What are you looking for?” or “Why are you talking to her?”
- 3.
what kind (+genitive)
c. 996, Ælfric's Lives of Saints Þā behēoldon swīðe ġeorne þā ċeapmenn hine, and be him on ġeþance smēadon hwæt manna hē bēon sċolde.
The businessmen looked at him very closely and tried to figure out what kind of person he might be.
Inflection Table
| Case | masculine | feminine | neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nom | hwā | — | hwæt |
| Acc | hwone | — | hwæt |
| Gen | — | — | — |
| Dat | — | — | — |
| Inst | — | — | — |
Etymology 2
Etymology & Origins
Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *hwataz (“quick, sharp, brave”)
Definitions
- 1.
quick
- 2.
active, vigorous
- 3.
bold, brave
Forþon nis þæs mōdwlonc mon ofer eorþan, ne his ġifena þæs god, ne in ġeoguþe tō þæs hwæt, ne in his dǣdum tō þæs dēor, ne him his dryhten tō þæs hold, þæt hē ā his sǣfōre sorge næbbe, tō hwon hine dryhten ġedōn wille.
Thus, there is no mind-proud man over Earth, nor his gifts of god, nor too bold in youth, nor too daring in his deeds, nor his Lord too kind for him, who would never have his seafarer sorrow, for which the Lord would like to put on him.
Inflection Table
Singular
| Case | masculine | feminine | neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nom | hwæt | hwatu | hwæt |
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