Etimology
From Middle English whether, whather, from Old English hweþer, hwæþer, from Proto-West Germanic *hwaþar, from Proto-Germanic *hwaþeraz, comparative form of *hwaz (“who”). Cognate with German weder (“neither”), Swedish var, Icelandic hvor (“each of two, which of two”)
conjunction
whether
Indicates doubt between possibilities (usually with correlative or).
Without a correlative, introduces a simple indirect question.
Introduces a disjunctive adverbial clause qualifying the main clause (with correlative or).
(obsolete) Introduces a direct question between alternatives (often with correlative or).
Examples
He chose the correct answer, but whether by luck or by skill I don't know.
As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish, […]. My servant is, so far as I am concerned, welcome to as many votes as he can get. […] I do not suppose that it matters much in reality whether laws are made by dukes or cornerboys, but I like, as far as possible, to associate with gentlemen in private life.
The incident immediately revived the debate about goal-line technology, with a final decision on whether it is introduced expected to be taken in Zurich on 5 July.
Whether modern, industrial man is less or more warlike than his hunter-gatherer ancestors is impossible to determine. The machine gun is so much more lethal than the bow and arrow that comparisons are meaningless. One thing that is true, though, is that murder rates have fallen over the centuries, as policing has spread and the routine carrying of weapons has diminished.
Do you know whether he's coming?
He's coming, whether you like it or not.
Whether or not you're successful, you can be sure you did your best.
The years have gone by and still we know not whether or no Mallory and Irvine reached the summit. But the will to climb Mount Everest is still alive.
whether ys it easyer to saye to the sicke of the palsey, thy synnes ar forgeven the: or to saye, aryse, take uppe thy beed and walke?
Whether hadst thou rather be a Faulconbridge, [...] Or the reputed sonne of Cordelion?
Related words
related terms
either
neither
whethersoever
determiner
whether
(obsolete) Which of two.
Examples
But to whether side fortune would have been partial could not be determined.
Whilst thus the case in doubtfull ballance hong,Vnsure to whether side it would incline,
In the morning sowe thy seede, and in the euening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
In vies of favours whether party gains...
pronoun
whether
(obsolete) Which of two. [11th–19th c.]
Examples
The debite answered and sayde unto them: whether of the twayne will ye that I lett loosse unto you?
Whether of them twain did the will of his father?
I told them we were in a country where we all knew there was a great deal of gold, and that all the world sent ships thither to get it; that we did not indeed know where it was, and so we might get a great deal, or a little, we did not know whether; […]
On the 17th, we came in full view of a great island, or continent on the south side whereof was a small neck of land jutting out into the sea, and a creek too shallow to hold a ship of above one hundred tons.
"Whether is better, the gift or the donor? / Come to me," / Quoth the pine tree, "I am the giver of honor."