whether
1. wheth.er \'hweth-*r, 'weth-, (.)(h)w*th-\ pn [ME, fr. OE hwther,
hwether; akin to OHG hwedar whic]h of two, L uter, Gk poteros, OE hwa- who
- more at WHO archaic 1: which one of the two archaic 2: whichever one
of the two
2. whether cj [ME, fr. OE hwther, hwether, fr. hwther, Xhwether,
pron. 1: - used as a function word followed usu. by correlative or or by
or whether to indicate (1) until the early 19th century a direct question
involving alternatives; (2) an indirect question involving alternatives
{decide ~ he should agree or raise objections}; (3) alternatives conditions
or possibilities {see me no more, whether he be dead or no -Shak.} 2:
EITHER {seated him next to her ~ by accident or design}