4. A compound relative or indefinite pronoun, standing for any one
which, whichever, that which, those which, the . . . which, and the
like; as, take which you will.
The which was formerly often used for which. The expressions which
that, which as, were also sometimes used by way of emphasis.
Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
James ii. 7.
Which, referring to a series of preceding sentences, or members of a
sentence, may have all joined to it adjectively. "All which, as a
method of a proclamation, is very convenient." Carlyle.
{ Which*ev"er (?), Which`so*ev"er (?), } pron. & a. Whether one or
another; whether one or the other; which; that one (of two or more)
which; as, whichever road you take, it will lead you to town.
Whid"ah bird` (?), (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of finchlike
birds belonging to the genus Vidua, native of Asia and Africa. In the
breeding season the male has very long, drooping tail feathers. Called
also vida finch, whidah finch, whydah bird, whydah finch, widow bird,
and widow finch.
Some of the species are often kept as cage birds, especially Vidua
paradisea, which is dark brownish above, pale buff beneath, with a
reddish collar around the neck.
Whid"er (?), adv. Whither. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Whiff (?), n. [OE. weffe vapor, whiff, probably of imitative origin;
cf. Dan. vift a puff, gust, W. chwiff a whiff, puff.]
1. A sudden expulsion of air from the mouth; a quick puff or slight
gust, as of air or smoke.
But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword The unnerved father
falls.
Shak.
The skipper, he blew a whiff from his pipe, And a scornful laugh
laughed he.
Longfellow.