What is?

Question

I looked up the definition of question words within the dictionary and found the meaning of "what" is: What is? So far to my knowledge what is the only word that uses itself within in its own definition. Any other word requires its definition to be a comparison or alteration to show what it means. Can you think of any other words that are confusingly similar?

Answer 1

first of all, that is not even close to a real definition of what... here is a real one

pron.

1.
1. Which thing or which particular one of many: What are you having for dinner? What did she say?
2. Which kind, character, or designation: What are these objects?
3. One of how much value or significance: What are possessions to a dying man?
2.
1. That which; the thing that: Listen to what I tell you.
2. Whatever thing that: come what may.
3. Informal. Something: I'll tell you what.
4. Nonstandard. Which, who, or that: It's the poor what gets the blame.


adj.

1. Which one or ones of several or many: What college are you attending? You should know what musical that song is from.
2. Whatever: They soon repaired what damage had been done.
3. How great; how astonishing: What a fool!


adv.

How much; in what respect; how: What does it matter?


conj.

That: I don't know but what I'll go.


interj.

1. Used to express surprise, incredulity, or other strong and sudden excitement.
2. Chiefly British. Used as a tag question, often to solicit agreement.


and secondly, if you ever read over laws and stuff like that, politicians routinely define something using the thing they are defining. i like to call it the "americans cannot use our own language" syndrom

Answer 2

I think you need a new dictionary. The definition of what is not, "what is" it's: "used as an interrogative expressing inquiry about the identity, nature, or value of an object or matter" That doesn't contain the word "what" at all.

Answer 3

Interesting. try Merriam Webster's online dictionary. It will give you the circular run around, as is common with other words, that is definintion by comparison, especially where the question words are concerned. "Which," is a variant of "what"... "What" is a variant of "who", etc...

Answer 4

The american heritage dictionary defines what as: Which thing or which particular one of many.

Answer 5

Its all about the metaphysics of being. The semiotics is just crazy. And the phenomenology is shallow.

Answer 6

wt r u stupid who the hell spends hours looking at a dictionary

Answer 7

Interesting concept - have not thought of this one - but nice idea!@

Answer 8

you need a good...therapist.