\Who\, pron. [Possess. {whose}; object. {Whom}.] [OE. who,
wha, AS. hw[=a], interrogative pron., neut. hw[ae]t; akin to
OFries. hwa, neut. hwet, OS. hw[=e], neut. hwat, D. wie,
neut. wat, G. wer, neut. was, OHG. wer, hwer, neut. waz,
hwaz, Icel. hvat, neut., Dan. hvo, neut. hvad, Sw. ho, hvem,
neut. hvad, Goth. hwas, fem. hw[=o], neut. hwa, Lith. kas,
Ir. & Gael. co, W. pwy, L. quod, neuter of qui, Gr. po`teros
whether, Skr. kas. [root]182. Cf. {How}, {Quantity},
{Quorum}, {Quote}, {Ubiquity}, {What}, {When}, {Where},
{Whether}, {Which}, {Whither}, {Whom}, {Why}.]
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.
         [He] should not tell whose children they were.
                                               --Chaucer.
         There thou tell'st of kings, and who aspire; Who
         fall, who rise, who triumph, who do moan. --Daniel.
         Adders who with cloven tongues Do hiss into madness.
                                               --Shak.
         Whom I could pity thus forlorn.       --Milton.
         How hard is our fate, who serve in the state.
                                               --Addison.
         Who cheapens life, abates the fear of death.
                                               --Young.
         The brace of large greyhounds, who were the
         companions of his sports.             --Sir W.
                                               Scott.
2. One; any; one. [Obs., except in the archaic phrase, as who
   should say.]
         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).