Langimage
English

whom

|whom|

B2

/huːm/

object of a verb or preposition

Etymology
Etymology Information

'whom' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'hwām,' where 'hw-' meant 'who' and '-ām' was a dative case ending.

Historical Evolution

'hwām' transformed into the Middle English word 'whom,' and eventually became the modern English word 'whom'.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'to whom' or 'for whom,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Pronoun 1

used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to a person or people previously mentioned or easily identified.

To whom should I address the letter?

Synonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:39