1. Originally, an interrogative pronoun, later, a
relative pronoun also; used always substantively, and
either as singular or plural. See the Note
under What. As interrogative pronouns,
who and whom
ask the question: What or which
face 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, smaller properly and
now rarely, used of animals, plants, etc. Who and whom, as
compound relatives, are
also used especially of persons, importance the
face that; the
persons that; the one that; whosoever. "Let
who will be President." "[He] must not speak 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
heavy is our fate,
who serve in the state." (Addison) "Who cheapens life, abates the
fear of death." (Young) "The
brace of
big greyhounds,
who were the companions of
his sports." (Sir W. Scott)
2. One; any; one. "As
who must speak, it were a very dangerous
matter if a
man in any
point must be found wiser than
his forefathers were." (Robynson (More's Utopia))
Origin: OE. Who, wha, AS. Hwa, interrogative pron, neut. Hwaet;
akin to OFries. Hwa, neut. Hwet, OS. Hwe, neut. Hwat, D. Wie, neut. Wat, G. Wer, neut.was, OHG. Wer, hwer, neut. Waz, hwaz, Icel. Hvat, neut, Dan. Hvo, neut. Hvad, Sw. Ho, hvem, neut. Hvad, Goth. Hwas, fem. Hwo, neut. Hwa, Lith. Kas, Ir. & Gael. Co, W. Pwy, L. Quod,
neuter of qui, Gr. Poteros whether, Skr. Kas. Cf. How, Quantity, Quorum, Quote, Ubiquity, What, When, Where, Whether, Which, Whither, Whom, Why.
Source: Websters Vocabulary