Adjacent Words

W definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

W is the twenty third letter of the English Alphabet. It takes its written form and its name from the union of two Vs, this being the form of the Roman capital letter which we call U. The name, double u, being given to it from its form or composition, and not from its sound, especially the vowels. W is properly a vowel, a simple sound, formed by opening the mouth with a close circular configuration of the lips. it is precisely the ou of the French, and the u of the Spaniards, Italians and Germans. With the oter vowels it forms diphthongs, which are of easy pronunciation; as in well, want, will, dwell; pronouced ooell, ooant, ooill, dooell. In English, it is always followed by another vowel, except when followed by h, as is when; but this case is an exception only in writing, and not in pronunciation, for h precedes w in utterance; when being pronounced hooen. In Welsh, w, which is sounded as in English is used without another vowel, as in fwl, a fool; dwn, dun; dwb, mortar; gwn, a gun, and a gown.
It is not improbable that the Romans pronouced v as we do w, for their volvo is our wallow; and volo, velle, is the English will, G. wollen. But this is uncertain.The German v has the sound of the English f, and w that of the English v.
W, at the end of words is often silent after a and o, as in law, saw, low, sow. In many words of this kind, w represents the Saxon g; in other cases, it helps to form a diphthong, as in now, vow, new, strew.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a heavy grey-white metallic element; the pure form is used mainly in electrical applications; it is found in several ores including wolframite and scheelite [syn: tungsten, wolfram, W, atomic number 74]
2: the cardinal compass point that is a 270 degrees [syn: west, due west, westward, W]
3: a unit of power equal to 1 joule per second; the power dissipated by a current of 1 ampere flowing across a resistance of 1 ohm [syn: watt, W]
4: the 23rd letter of the Roman alphabet [syn: W, w, double-u]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Date: 1960 W particle II. abbreviation watt III. symbol Etymology: German Wolfram tungsten

Merriam Webster's

I. noun (plural w's or ws) Usage: often capitalized, often attributive Date: 15th century 1. a. the 23d letter of the English alphabet b. a graphic representation of this letter c. a speech counterpart of orthographic w 2. a graphic device for reproducing the letter w 3. one designated w especially as the 23d in order or class 4. something shaped like the letter W II. abbreviation 1. water 2. week 3. weight 4. white 5. wicket 6. wide; width 7. wife 8. with

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. (also w) (pl. Ws or W's) the twenty-third letter of the alphabet. 2. abbr. (also W.) 1 watt(s). 2 West; Western. 3 women's (size). 4 Welsh. 3. symb. Chem. the element tungsten.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Labial La"bi*al, n. 1. (Phonetics) A letter or character representing an articulation or sound formed or uttered chiefly with the lips, as b, p, w. 2. (Mus.) An organ pipe that is furnished with lips; a flue pipe. 3. (Zo["o]l.) One of the scales which border the mouth of a fish or reptile.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

W W (d[u^]b"'l [=u]), the twenty-third letter of the English alphabet, is usually a consonant, but sometimes it is a vowel, forming the second element of certain diphthongs, as in few, how. It takes its written form and its name from the repetition of a V, this being the original form of the Roman capital letter which we call U. Etymologically it is most related to v and u. See V, and U. Some of the uneducated classes in England, especially in London, confuse w and v, substituting the one for the other, as weal for veal, and veal for weal; wine for vine, and vine for wine, etc. See Guide to Pronunciation, [sect][sect] 266-268.