what if
Word Rarity
Common
Frequency: Zipf frequency 6.12 in modern English
15
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
1
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
adv
Used to introduce a speculation about a future event.
adv
Used to introduce a speculation about a past event. Often the basis for counterfactual historical interpretations.
Example Sentences
- "What if we arrange it for 9:00 instead of 10:00?"
- "What if we could learn to get along? What would happen then?"
- "What if Abraham Lincoln had not been assassinated? How might the Reconstruction of the Southern States have been handled?"
Etymology
Dates back at least to Old English hwæt ġif, of the same meaning. A similar expression occurs in Latin in the Vulgate, Acts 23:9, "Factus est autem clamor magnus. Et surgentes quidam pharisaeorum, pugnabant, decentes: Nihil mali inveniumus in homine isto: quid si Spiritus locutus est ei, aut angelus?" ("And there arose a great cry. And some of the Pharisees rising up, strove, saying: We find no evil in this man. What if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?" Douay-Rheims translation)
Origin
- Source language: Old English
Word Breakdown
- Root: hwæt ġif