Etymology
Middle English < Old English hwæt < Proto-Germanic < Proto-Indo-European base *kuos, *kuod (which also gave us ‘who’).
Meaning "what did you say?" is recorded from c.1300; as an interrogative expletive at the end of sentences it is first recorded 1785, common early 20c. in affected British speech. Or what as an alternative end to a question is first attested 1766. "To give one what for is to respond to his remonstrant what for? by further assault" [Weekley]. The phrase is attested from 1873. What's-his-name for "unspecified person" is attested from 1697; variant whatsisface is first recorded 1967. What's up? "what is happening?" first recorded 1881.
Added detail:
To answer the rest of your question...
• When you use it in a manner that people comprehend, then you're most probably using it the right way.
• "What are you coming home?" is hardly comprehensible, ergo, saying/using it in a wrong way.
• When you holler "What??!" to answer back with an impatient tone is rude.
2007-03-06 08:39:17
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answer #1
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answered by endrshadow 5
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What....? The first word in a question. An exclamation of surprise. The actual situation or state of affairs. A pronoun. Pronouncing the word "what" in a tonal or attitudinal way can change the meaning.
2007-03-06 10:50:46
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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Just like anything in this world, depending on how you use something, it makes it good or bad. ..Look at what your intention is before you say it, if you have good intention, then you will sound okay but it can be invalidating to someone if you are trying to communicate how ignorant the other person is. My advice is,
adjust the tone of your voice to a more pleasing tone, keep your
intention good, then be sincere.
janaki
2007-03-06 08:55:04
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answer #3
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answered by enlightenment2121 2
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field provider In Noah’s Day Noah: sturdy morning, my call is Noah and that i’m calling homestead Holder: look mate make it rapid will you i'm very busy eating and eating Noah: properly i would be short then, i'm calling on you and your neighbours to talk worldwide circumstances, what do you experience is the main pressing difficulty we are dealing with immediately? homestead Holder: properly first, it in no way rains Noah: this is by technique of the fact homestead Holder: and 2d we've a public eye – observed interior the neighbourhood Noah: truly, what's that? homestead Holder: some non secular nut on the different area of the hill is development this great massive Boat of a few type, real all people choose for to tinker on the weekends yet this individual is going overboard Noah: unusual you ought to show overboard? homestead Holder: look! Mr. Noah, i relish your zeal and devotion yet I even have had talk with contributors of your loved ones in the previous and that i'm merely fascinated, as properly i'm getting waiting for my daughters wedding ceremony, you ought to work out the guy she is marrying, WOW, he must be 9 Foot Tall if he's an inch, his call Nephilim Irvin Nephilim, you ought to work out the dimensions shirts he wears, i could be swimming in them Noah: humorous you point out swimming? homestead Holder: you won't have self belief the honeymoon they have planned 40 relaxing crammed days and 40 thrilling nights on Mount Ararat it could be mind-blowing if the climate continues to be as this is Noah: i would not assume it, you notice homestead Holder: sorry I’ll ought to pass now (Going interior to his spouse, he says) What a normal guy that replaced into on the door spouse: who replaced into it costly? homestead Holder: don’t truly be attentive to a pair preacher of righteousness and he specific smelled like animals possibly he owns a puppy save, properly are we waiting to pass now costly? spouse: sure yet i think of i will placed in this hat by way of fact it specific sounds like rain
2016-12-14 12:32:29
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answer #4
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answered by ? 4
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