1. Originally, an interrogative pronoun, later, a relative pronoun also; -- used always substantively, and either as singular or plural. See the Note under What, pron., 1. As interrogative pronouns, who and whom ask the question: What or which person or persons? Who and whom, as relative pronouns (in the sense of that), are properly used of persons (corresponding to which, as applied to things), but are sometimes, less properly and now rarely, used of animals, plants, etc. Who and whom, as compound relatives, are also used especially of persons, meaning the person that; the persons that; the one that; whosoever. “Let who will be President.” Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ He ] should not tell whose children they were. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

There thou tell'st of kings, and who aspire;
Who fall, who rise, who triumph, who do moan. Daniel. [ 1913 Webster ]

Adders who with cloven tongues
Do hiss into madness. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whom I could pity thus forlorn. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

How hard is our fate, who serve in the state. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who cheapens life, abates the fear of death. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

The brace of large greyhounds, who were the companions of his sports. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One; any; one. [ Obs., except in the archaic phrase, as who should say. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

As who should say, it were a very dangerous matter if a man in any point should be found wiser than his forefathers were. Robynson (More's Utopia). [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Containing the total amount, number, etc.; comprising all the parts; free from deficiency; all; total; entire; as, the whole earth; the whole solar system; the whole army; the whole nation. “On their whole host I flew unarmed.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The whole race of mankind. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Complete; entire; not defective or imperfect; not broken or fractured; unimpaired; uninjured; integral; as, a whole orange; the egg is whole; the vessel is whole. [ 1913 Webster ]

My life is yet whole in me. 2 Sam. i. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Possessing, or being in a state of, heath and soundness; healthy; sound; well. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ She ] findeth there her friends hole and sound. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

They that be whole need not a physician. Matt. ix. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

When Sir Lancelot's deadly hurt was whole. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whole blood. (Law of Descent) See under Blood, n., 2. --
Whole note (Mus.), the note which represents a note of longest duration in common use; a semibreve. --
Whole number (Math.), a number which is not a fraction or mixed number; an integer. --
Whole snipe (Zool.), the common snipe, as distinguished from the smaller jacksnipe. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- All; total; complete; entire; integral; undivided; uninjured; unimpaired; unbroken; healthy. -- Whole, Total, Entire, Complete. When we use the word whole, we refer to a thing as made up of parts, none of which are wanting; as, a whole week; a whole year; the whole creation. When we use the word total, we have reference to all as taken together, and forming a single totality; as, the total amount; the total income. When we speak of a thing as entire, we have no reference to parts at all, but regard the thing as an integer, i. e., continuous or unbroken; as, an entire year; entire prosperity. When we speak of a thing as complete, there is reference to some progress which results in a filling out to some end or object, or a perfected state with no deficiency; as, complete success; a complete victory. [ 1913 Webster ]

All the whole army stood agazed on him. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

One entire and perfect chrysolite. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lest total darkness should by night regain
Her old possession, and extinguish life. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

So absolute she seems,
And in herself complete. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

This not the whole of life to live,
Nor all of death to die. J. Montgomery. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A regular combination of parts; a system. [ 1913 Webster ]

Parts answering parts shall slide into a whole. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Committee of the whole. See under Committee. --
Upon the whole, considering all things; taking everything into account; in view of all the circumstances or conditions. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Totality; total; amount; aggregate; gross. [ 1913 Webster ]

By wholesale, in the mass; in large quantities; without distinction or discrimination. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some, from vanity or envy, despise a valuable book, and throw contempt upon it by wholesale. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]